The Rockies outrighted Hilliard to Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday.
Hilliard appeared to be in good position to make the Rockies' Opening Day roster but was ultimately designated for assignment last week, when Colorado signed Mickey Moniak to a one-year deal to round out its depth in the outfield. Though he turned in a 107 wRC+ over 158 plate appearances in the majors with Colorado in 2024, Hilliard's lack of minor-league options likely worked against him in landing a spot on another team's 40-man roster. After clearing waivers, Hilliard will remain in the Colorado organization and will head to Triple-A while he waits for another opportunity in the big leagues.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Designated for assignment
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The Rockies designated Hilliard for assignment Thursday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
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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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Significant struggles this spring
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Hilliard has gone 2-for-21 with 11 strikeouts in Cactus League action.
Hilliard was expected to make the Opening Day roster as the primary backup center fielder, with a chance to also start at a corner position. His defense could still earn him a roster spot, but Sean Bouchard's strong start to spring training is hurting Hilliard's outlook, per Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Likely for Opening Day roster
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Hilliard is likely to compete for a starting corner outfield spot during spring training, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.
Hilliard is very likely to have a roster spot as the primary backup to Brenton Doyle in center field. He'll also compete for a corner outfield spot -- presumably right field -- with the likes of Jordan Beck and Sean Bouchard. Beck could be in the best position to earn the job out of spring training, though both he and Hilliard ended the 2024 campaign in the majors.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Avoids arbitration with Colorado
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Hilliard agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Rockies on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
The 30-year-old finished the 2024 campaign as a regular in Colorado's outfield, so it's not a major surprise he was tendered a contract for 2025. Hilliard played in 58 big-league games and had 10 home runs with a .239/.305/.507 slash line, though he also struck out at a 35.4 percent clip.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Provides lone run in loss
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Hilliard went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Dodgers.
Hilliard opened the scoring with a second-inning homer, but that was the lone run the Rockies could muster in their season finale. This was Hilliard's 10th homer of the campaign, five of which he hit over his last 15 games. He added a .239/.305/.507 slash line with 27 RBI, 26 runs scored and five stolen bases over 158 plate appearances.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Gaining foothold in lineup
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Hilliard will start in right field and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
Hilliard will stick in the lineup for the sixth game in a row, this time occupying right field after his previous five starts came in either center or left field. The 30-year-old has earned the uptick in playing time by going 5-for-18 with a home run, a double, two walks, a stolen base, three RBI and three runs over the previous five contests.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Belts homer Friday
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Hilliard went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 6-4 loss to the Dodgers.
Hilliard has produced when in the lineup in September, going 8-for-26 (.308) with four homers and 10 RBI over his last 10 contests. He's picking up extra playing time with Brenton Doyle slowed by knee and finger issues this month. In a part-time role, Hilliard has nine homers, 26 RBI, 24 runs scored and four stolen bases while slashing .261/.320/.548 over 131 plate appearances this season.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Comes up clutch Saturday
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Hilliard hit a two-run home run in Saturday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Rockies.
Hilliard delivered a game-tying, two-out blast in the ninth inning, and the Rockies went on to win in the 10th. Over his last nine games, Hilliard has four homers and eight RBI. The outfielder is at a .248/.302/.533 slash line with eight long balls, 23 RBI, 22 runs scored and four stolen bases over 119 plate appearances this season. He continues to fill a depth role for the Rockies, rotating in as a reserve outfielder versus right-handed pitchers.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Homers in back-to-back games
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Hilliard went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Sunday against the Brewers.
Hilliard remains a part-time player in the Colorado outfield, but he has made starts in all three positions. When given a chance, he's been impactful with the bat, slugging three homers with six RBI and five runs scored across his last 19 at-bats.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Homers in loss
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Hilliard went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 9-8 loss to the Marlins on Tuesday.
Hilliard has started consecutive games in center field while Brenton Doyle (leg) is dealing with an injury. Playing time has been inconsistent for Hilliard in August, though he's batting a respectable .282 (11-for-39) with five extra-base hits and eight RBI this month. The outfielder is at a .247/.298/.471 slash line with five homers, 16 RBI, 17 runs scored and four stolen bases over 97 plate appearances this season.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: On bench Tuesday
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Hilliard is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks.
With southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound for Arizona, Hilliard will take a seat on the bench. In his place, Jordan Beck will play left field and bat eighth.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Three more hits in win
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Hilliard went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Sunday's 9-8 win over Atlanta.
Prior to this weekend, Hilliard went 2-for-18 over his previous 12 games, but he responded with consecutive three-hit efforts Saturday and Sunday. The outfielder is up to a .277/.338/.508 slash line with four home runs, 13 RBI, 15 runs scored, four stolen bases and three doubles over 77 plate appearances. While his bat has come to life, he still doesn't have a guaranteed place in the lineup, and he's likely to be limited to a platoon role at best.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Huge performance in loss
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Hilliard went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, five RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's loss to Atlanta.
Hilliard was locked in Saturday, launching a three-run shot on a hanging curveball from Max Fried in his first at-bat before smacking a two-run double with two outs in his second trip to the plate, tying the game at 5-5. The outfielder's three hits in the contest marked a season high, as did his five RBI. The multi-hit effort was his third of the campaign.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: On bench Tuesday
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Hilliard isn't in the Rockies' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox.
After hitting a two-run homer during Monday's victory, Hilliard will get a breather Tuesday while Jake Cave starts in left field and bats seventh.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Drives in two
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Hilliard went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's extra-innings win against the Red Sox.
Hilliard blasted a clutch home run in the 10th inning to tie the game at 7-7. It was his third homer of the season, and he's also hit .290 with five RBI and seven runs scored across 13 games in July. Hilliard is currently locked into a large-side platoon role in left field, though the impending returns of Nolan Jones (back) and Kris Bryant (oblique) will likely jeopardize his playing time.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: On bench against LHP
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Hilliard is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Giants.
The lefty-hitting Hilliard will avoid a matchup with southpaw Kyle Harrison on Friday. In his place, Sean Bouchard will bat eighth and play left field.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Hitting bench against southpaw
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Hilliard is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
The lefty-hitting Hilliard looks on track to serve as the Rockies' primary option in left field while Nolan Jones (back) is on the injured list, but Hilliard will likely hit the bench when the Rockies face southpaws. With lefty Jose Quintana taking the hill for the Mets on Sunday, Sean Bouchard will step in as the starter in left field in place of Hilliard, who had 5-for-13 with two home runs, one double, one stolen base, one walk, three RBI and three runs over the previous four contests.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Surprising source of power
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Hilliard went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Reds.
Hilliard's playing time has been limited since the Rockies selected his contract from Triple-A Albuquerque on June 21. He got the start in center field Wednesday and delivered a big game from the bottom of the order, hitting his first two homers of the season. The outfielder is 4-for-15 (.267) with two stolen bases and six runs scored over 18 plate appearances this season. At best, Hilliard is a fourth or fifth outfielder for the Rockies, especially since the team already has a trio of left-handed-hitting outfielders ahead of him on the depth chart.
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Rockies' Sam Hilliard: Set to join big club
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The Rockies are set to select Hilliard's contract from Triple-A Albuquerque, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.
Hilliard began the year in the minors, and over 65 games he has a slash line of .288/.374/.542 with 14 home runs, 44 RBI and 13 stolen bases over 305 plate appearances. Hilliard's promotion comes with Charlie Blackmon headed to the injured list due to a strained right hamstring.
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