February 16, 2025
According to Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post, Colorado Rockies outfielder
Sam Hilliard is expected to have a spot on the Opening Day roster but will have to compete for a starting role in one of the corner outfield spots. Currently, he is penciled in as the backup to
Brenton Doyle in center field, but a strong spring could push him into the top role in one of the corners. He will compete for a job alongside
Jordan Beck, Sam Bouchard, and
Nolan Jones. Last summer, Hilliard posted a .239/.305/.507 line with five doubles and 10 home runs across 58 contests with the Rockies. He also swiped five bags. The 30-year-old flashed upside power as he generated an excellent 52.3 percent hard-hit rate and a 14.8 percent barrel rate, which were both well above the average marks. If Hilliard wins a starting job in the outfield, he could have streaming appeal during home stretches, given his power and playing in a favorable park.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Patrick Saunders
November 22, 2024
The Colorado Rockies announced on Friday that they agreed to one-year deals with outfielder
Sam Hilliard and left-hander
Lucas Gilbreath to avoid salary arbitration. Hilliard, who received an even $1 million, earned a starting role in the outfield down the stretch in his return to the team in 2024 and ultimately finished with a .239/.305/.507 slash line, .812 OPS, 10 homers, 27 RBI, five stolen bases and 26 runs scored in just 58 games played. The 30-year-old has a lot of swing and miss to his game, though, and could be competing for a starting gig in spring training. Gilbreath signed for $785,000 battled through an injury-riddled 2024 season and was only able to pitch one inning in the big leagues. The 28-year-old southpaw gave up six earned runs in that one inning and will return (hopefully healthy) in 2025 to give the Rockies some left-handed relief depth.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rockies Club Information
February 28, 2024
The Colorado Rockies have claimed outfielder
Sam Hilliard off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. The O's had claimed him earlier in the offseason from the Atlanta Braves where he appeared in 40 games in the 2023 season, hitting .236 with three home runs and four stolen bases across just 78 trips to the plate. Now, the 30-year-old returns to the organization where he spent the first four seasons of his big-league career from 2019-2022. He appeared in 214 games with the Rockies, slugging a career-high 14 home runs in the 2021 season. His bat has largely been well below the league average in his career as he owns a .215 lifetime average with 32 homers, 19 steals, and a .718 OPS across 254 games, production that grades out 22% below the league average, as per his 78 wRC+.
--Brenton KempSource: Colorado Rockies
November 1, 2023
The Baltimore Orioles claimed outfielder
Sam Hilliard (heel) off waivers from the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday and designated right-hander
Joey Krehbiel for assignment in a corresponding move. Before missing the end of the regular season in 2023 due to a heel injury, Hilliard went 17-for-72 (.236) with three home runs, five doubles, six RBI, four stolen bases and 15 runs scored in 40 games in his fifth big-league season and first in Atlanta. The 29-year-old should be fully healed up in time for the start of spring training in 2024, where he will compete for a roster spot in Baltimore. In 254 career major-league games, Hilliard has a .215/.294/.424 slash line with 32 homers, 77 RBI and 19 stolen bases.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Orioles Twitter
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