Sam Hilliard

Sam Hilliard

31-Year-Old OutfielderOF
Colorado Rockies AAA
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Hilliard hits the ball very hard. That was especially the case last season, when his 52.3 percent hard-hit rate, 94.6 mph average exit velocity and 14.8 percent barrel rate all would have ranked in the 94th percentile or higher if he had enough batted-ball events to qualify. He's also very fast, boasting a sprint speed last season in the 88th percentile. It's those tools that have made Hilliard intriguing and enough so to the Rockies that they brought him back for a second tenure in 2024. Hilliard popped 10 home runs and stole five bases in just 158 plate appearances for the Rockies but also struck out at a 35.4 percent clip, which is right around his career mark. The swing and miss issues are why Hilliard has yet to receive more than 238 plate appearances in any big-league season even as he heads into his age-31 campaign. It's possible he gets more than that in 2025, and if he does he could have some stretches of usefulness in fantasy leagues, particularly when the Rockies are at home. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Rest of Season
From Preseason
#383
ADP
$Signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Rockies in November of 2024.
Designated for assignment
OFColorado Rockies  AAA
March 27, 2025
The Rockies designated Hilliard for assignment Thursday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
ANALYSIS
The move frees a spot on the 40-man roster for Mickey Moniak, who was officially signed Thursday. Hilliard had an .812 OPS in 58 games with Colorado last season, but he posted a .489 OPS and 48.2 percent strikeout rate this spring and it cost him a job. He could draw interest on waivers from a team in need of outfield help.
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Batting Stats
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Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2023
 
 
+32%
OPS vs LHP
2025
No Stats
2024
 
 
+38%
OPS vs LHP
2023
 
 
+1%
OPS vs RHP
OPS PA R HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
Since 2023vs Left .962 52 9 6 17 1 .271 .275 .688
Since 2023vs Right .729 184 32 7 16 8 .228 .309 .420
2025vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024vs Left 1.011 43 8 5 16 1 .300 .286 .725
2024vs Right .731 115 18 5 11 4 .214 .313 .418
2023vs Left .722 9 1 1 1 0 .125 .222 .500
2023vs Right .726 69 14 2 5 4 .250 .304 .422
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Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2023
 
 
+3%
OPS at Home
2025
No Stats
2024
 
 
+15%
OPS at Home
2023
 
 
+18%
OPS on Road
OPS PA R HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
Since 2023Home .791 134 25 7 22 3 .260 .295 .496
Since 2023Away .770 102 16 6 11 6 .207 .310 .460
2025Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024Home .868 79 16 5 17 1 .286 .325 .543
2024Away .756 79 10 5 10 4 .191 .286 .471
2023Home .689 55 9 2 5 2 .226 .255 .434
2023Away .812 23 6 1 1 2 .263 .391 .421
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Sam Hilliard See More
Spring Training Job Battles: National League Update
4 days ago
Much has been decided in the National League over the last few days, including the Giants' fifth starter job, which was won by Landen Roupp.
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12 days ago
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16 days ago
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37 days ago
Todd Zola explains how projected playing time and a skills-based approach helps him identify upside plays late in a draft, as well as leading him to put Aaron Judge at the top of his personal rankings.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2017
Hilliard's time in Colorado came to an unceremonious end when the team traded him to Atlanta in November in exchange for Dylan Spain. The writing was already on the wall after the Rockies optioned him down for good in late August. Hilliard shaved eight percentage points off his strikeout rate from 2021 (to 28.5%) while increasing his walk rate to a career-high 11.5%, but those improvements did not matter as he struggled to a .184/.280/.264 line. Things got especially ugly on the road, with Hilliard slugging a mere .188 in his 81 plate appearances without the Coors bump. His batted-ball numbers are somewhat confounding as he had a Statcast HardHit% close to 50% but just a .370 xwOBACON. Atlanta will not be looking to make Hilliard a starter, but he will get to make his case for the Opening Day roster as a lefty-swinging, speedy reserve outfielder. As he heads into his age-29 season, Hilliard is now out of minor-league options.
Although Hilliard spent just over two months in the minors during the 2021 campaign, he appeared in 81 games and hit a career-high 14 home runs. The outfielder had a career-low 33.1% hard-hit rate, and he also had trouble making contact, as his 67.4 Z-Contact% was the lowest mark of his career. Hilliard was unable to maintain a consistent role -- or roster spot -- for the struggling Rockies in 2021, and he has limited contact and power potential. Even while playing his home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field, he's a lackluster fantasy option outside of deeper leagues.
Hilliard had the chance to receive more consistent at-bats during the abbreviated 2020 season after Ian Desmond opted out, but he regressed as a full-time member of the Rockies. He flashed his power during a cup of coffee in 2019 with seven home runs over 27 games, but he only hit six over 36 contests in 2020. Hilliard had an elite .377 ISO in 2019, but the mark dropped to .229 last season. His strikeout numbers were way up (36.8%), and part of his struggles can be traced to his increased 17.1% swinging-strike rate. When he was able to put the ball in play, his results remained relatively steady from a year ago, as he posted a .281 BABIP. The shine has come all the way off, yet Hilliard still has a reasonable path to playing time in his age-27 season to go with power, speed and home games in Coors Field. He is a fine flier but shouldn't be targeted aggressively.
Hilliard's age (turns 26 in February) is misleading for a player who didn't reach the majors until late last season. A former pitcher, he didn't move to the outfield until 2015 at Wichita State, so he is relatively new to this. His age, 29.3 K% and the hitting environment of the Pacific Coast League led many to discount a 35-homer/22-steal campaign at Triple-A, but he was even better in his cup of coffee (138 wRC+, .377 ISO, 26.4 K%). His most impressive feat was a game-tying opposite-field home run off fellow southpaw Josh Hader. Per Statcast, he had the same sprint speed (29.1 ft/sec) as Scott Kingery, so he has the potential to steal double-digit bases in a full season. With the speed for center and the arm for right, Hilliard provides Colorado with defensive versatility and offensive upside. He may get jerked around early in the year but has a chance to settle in as a Rockies regular for years to come.
Hilliard has made quite an impression in his first two professional seasons with the Rockies. Drafted in the 15th round of the 2015 draft out of Wichita State, the left-handed outfielder possesses a powerful frame at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds. In his one season of rookie ball, Hilliard slashed .306/.397/.532 in 262 plate appearances. He displayed good patience at the plate and finished his first season with a 13.7 percent walk rate. In his second minor league season, this time with Low-A Asheville, the 22-year-old hit .267/.348/.449, belted 17 home runs and stole 30 bases in 527 plate appearances. Those numbers should be slightly discounted, given the favorable hitting conditions at Asheville (.832 home OPS, .761 road OPS) and the fact that at 22 he was slightly older than league average. His combination of power and speed make him an intriguing prospect, but he's still got some kinks to work out in his game. Despite walking at a solid clip, he will need to cut down on his strikeouts as he posted a 28.5 percent strikeout rate at Asheville.
More Fantasy News
Significant struggles this spring
OFColorado Rockies  AAA
March 9, 2025
Hilliard has gone 2-for-21 with 11 strikeouts in Cactus League action.
ANALYSIS
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Likely for Opening Day roster
OFColorado Rockies  AAA
February 15, 2025
Hilliard is likely to compete for a starting corner outfield spot during spring training, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.
ANALYSIS
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Avoids arbitration with Colorado
OFColorado Rockies  AAA
November 22, 2024
Hilliard agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Rockies on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
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Provides lone run in loss
OFColorado Rockies  AAA
September 29, 2024
Hilliard went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Dodgers.
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Gaining foothold in lineup
OFColorado Rockies  AAA
September 25, 2024
Hilliard will start in right field and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Unlikely to make Orioles' roster?
OFBaltimore Orioles  AAA
January 20, 2024
Hilliard "has an uphill climb" to make the Orioles' Opening Day roster, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Baltimore already has four other left-handed hitting outfielders in Cedric Mullins, Colton Cowser, Heston Kjerstad and Kyle Stowers that are either locks to make the team or possibly ahead of Hilliard in the pecking order. Hilliard is out of options, so he'll have to be traded or exposed to waivers if he doesn't break camp with the big club. The 29-year-old was claimed off waivers back in November.
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