Sam Hilliard

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #6 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Hilliard was a pitcher at Wichita State who only started to make the conversion to position player as a junior. The Rockies drafted Hilliard in the 15th round in 2015 and he methodically worked his way up the system. Hilliard reached the pinnacle in 2019, hitting 35 home runs and stealing 22 bases at Triple-A Albuquerque to receive his first big league callup.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hilliard's size is deceiving. Though he's 6-foot-5, 238 pounds, he showed well defensively in Coors Field's spacious center field and stole 24 bases in 29 attempts in 2019. He is a plus runner and has a strong arm that precludes runners from being overly brave. At the plate, Hilliard boasts plus-plus raw power he gets to in games. That power has long come with lots of strikeouts, but in the majors he refined his leg lift to give him a better swing path and make more contact without sacrificing any of his line-to-line home run power.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hilliard's athleticism and power make him a legitimate lineup threat, and his ability to play all three outfield spots gives him a greater avenue to the majors. He has to trim his strikeout rate, which is the final step in his conversion from a pitcher.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #10 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Hilliard faced an emotional challenge in 2018, dealing with his father being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. He, however, showed mental strength and rebounded in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .328. Hilliard was a highly touted pitcher out of junior college but struggled early at Wichita State and made his mark as a hitter. Rockies area scout Bret Baldwin said he was fortunate to be a first-year scout and wasn't turned off by Hilliard's mound struggles.
  
  Scouting Report: During the 2018 season, Hilliard adopted a bit of a leg kick that helped him keep his weight back and see the ball longer, which was a big help in starting to handle breaking pitches and show signs of cutting down a strikeout rate that was close to 30 percent. His size and physical skills profile perfectly in right field. His hit tool, power and arm all grade as above-average. Hilliard is a plus runner who could play center field, but due to his size and the demands of the outfield at Coors Field, the plan is for him to stay in right field.
  
  The Future: Given that Hilliard did not make the move to the outfield until 2015, he is more raw than a typical college bat. He has proven to be a quick learner and is pushing aside a label earlier in his career that he would wind up in a platoon role.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #14 prospect in 2018
  Hilliard has established himself as one of the top performers in the Rockies system since the day they drafted him. The physical 6-foot-5, 225-pound lefthanded hitter led the South Atlantic League in RBIs in 2016 and at high Class A Lancaster in 2017 he ranked among the top 10 in the California League in home runs (21), batting average (.300), RBIs (92) and stolen bases (37). Hilliard shows flashes of all five tools but is still in search of consistency. He has the size, natural raw power, above-average speed and plus arm strength that scouts embrace. He squares up anything out over the plate and pulls the ball in the air with authority, with most of his home runs lined shots that carry over the right-field fence. However, his swing gets long at times and has resulted in a nearly 30 percent career strikeout rate. He struggles against lefties in particular and isn't especially adept at using the whole field. Hilliard is an efficient basestealer with his speed and plays an above-average right field, and can handle center field in a pinch. Hilliard's tools and performance have scouts intrigued, but he'll have to make offensive adjustments to reach his everyday ceiling.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #409 prospect in 2014 draft
  Hilliard could be a two-way impact player at Wichita State if he doesn't sign. He played one season at Navarro (Texas) JC before transferring to Crowder, where he wound up performing better on the mound. Hilliard's fastball can sit around 90 mph from a high arm slot, and he's built for durability at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds. He has plenty of strength that plays at the plate as well, though he hit just three home runs this spring.

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Hilliard was a pitcher at Wichita State who only started to make the conversion to position player as a junior. The Rockies drafted Hilliard in the 15th round in 2015 and he methodically worked his way up the system. Hilliard reached the pinnacle in 2019, hitting 35 home runs and stealing 22 bases at Triple-A Albuquerque to receive his first big league callup.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hilliard’s size is deceiving. Though he’s 6-foot-5, 238 pounds, he showed well defensively in Coors Field’s spacious center field and stole 24 bases in 29 attempts in 2019. He is a plus runner and has a strong arm that precludes runners from being overly brave. At the plate, Hilliard boasts plus-plus raw power he gets to in games. That power has long come with lots of strikeouts, but in the majors he refined his leg lift to give him a better swing path and make more contact without sacrificing any of his line-to-line home run power.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hilliard’s athleticism and power make him a legitimate lineup threat, and his ability to play all three outfield spots gives him a greater avenue to the majors. He has to trim his strikeout rate, which is the final step in his conversion from a pitcher.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Hilliard was a pitcher at Wichita State who only started to make the conversion to position player as a junior. The Rockies drafted Hilliard in the 15th round in 2015 and he methodically worked his way up the system. Hilliard reached the pinnacle in 2019, hitting 35 home runs and stealing 22 bases at Triple-A Albuquerque to receive his first big league callup.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hilliard's size is deceiving. Though he's 6-foot-5, 238 pounds, he showed well defensively in Coors Field's spacious center field and stole 24 bases in 29 attempts in 2019. He is a plus runner and has a strong arm that precludes runners from being overly brave. At the plate, Hilliard boasts plus-plus raw power he gets to in games. That power has long come with lots of strikeouts, but in the majors he refined his leg lift to give him a better swing path and make more contact without sacrificing any of his line-to-line home run power.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hilliard's athleticism and power make him a legitimate lineup threat, and his ability to play all three outfield spots gives him a greater avenue to the majors. He has to trim his strikeout rate, which is the final step in his conversion from a pitcher.