Tigers Want Healthy New Year For Hill

LAKELAND, Fla.—The key for Derek Hill is to stay on the field. The Tigers are convinced that he can develop into a dynamic player if he does.

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Hill has made three trips to the disabled list and has played in just 100 games since being selected 23rd overall in the 2014 draft. But the Tigers like what they see out of the 20-year-old center fielder, especially on defense and on the bases.

“Speed and defense,” director of player development Dave Owen said. “He can really run and play defense. He can change the game with his legs, and that’s pretty exciting to know that we can watch that.”

Hill, who hails from Elk Grove (Calif.) High, still has plenty of ground to make up offensively, but speed and defensive ability are certain to help him while he works to develop at the plate. He hit .238/.305/.314 with 11 extra-base hits in 53 games at low Class A West Michigan in 2015, stealing 25 bases in 32 tries.

Hill has shown off his speed both in the outfield and on the bases. Hill has stolen 36 bases in his career and has been successful on 80 percent of his attempts.

“He’s going to be the kind of guy who drives the ball in the gaps,” Owen said. “We’ve talked to him about using his speed. He’s working diligently on bunting, which I think will be a very nice piece to have . . .

“He’s really taken to it. He really enjoys it. He’s challenging himself. That’ll be part of his game.”

Owen said Hill has worked hard in the offseason to add strength.

“He’s not bulked up,” he said. “He’s very athletic.”

The next big step in Hill’s development would be simply to stay on the field for an entire season. After all, it’s difficult to develop on the disabled list.

“That is a key, really, for a lot of guys,” Owen said, “and that’s a key for baseball—staying healthy. There’s no magic formula for that, why some guys get hurt and some don’t.”

TIGER TALES

• Steven Moya showed improved pitch recognition and plate discipline during Grapefruit League play. The 24-year-old right fielder is headed back to Triple-A Toledo to start the season after hitting .240/.283/.420 with 20 home runs in 126 games there last year. He also struck out 175 times with just 28 walks.

• Lefthander Daniel Norris started the season on the disabled list after suffering a non-displaced fracture of his spinal process during a fall in the team’s weight room. He made eight starts for Detroit last summer.