Sam Hilliard Could Be a Late-Round Find For Rockies

High Class A Lancaster corner outfielder Sam Hilliard looks like a particularly keen draft pick by the Rockies scouting department.

Colorado selected Hilliard in the 15th round in 2015 out of Wichita State. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound lefthanded batter has an eye-opening skill set.

“He definitely has a chance to be a five-tool player at the major league level,” farm director Zach Wilson said.

At low Class A Asheville last season, Hilliard hit .267/.348/.449 with 17 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 42 attempts. He struck out 29 percent of the time in this full-season debut.

Hilliard looked like a more mature hitter this year in the California League, his strikeout rate improving to 22 percent.

Through 38 games this year, Hilliard batted .359/.429/.599 with seven homers and 13 stolen bases in 17 attempts.

“Offensively, as he continues to use the left side of the field, he’s going to get better and better,” Wilson said. “He can get a little pull-happy, where he can get a little homer-happy, but he’s already taken a step this year in that he’s using the middle of the field more. So there’s less of the roll over (ground balls). There’s more line drives up the middle.”

“When he gets a pitch inside that he can drive, he’s driving it, like, out of the park.

Wilson is surprised by how well Hilliard runs for his size. “He’s a plus runner, particularly as he gets going,” the farm director said.

Wilson said Hilliard is above-average in right field, where he has more experience, and average in left. While his outfield instincts are good, he’s still improving his routes. His makeup speed works to his advantage.

Lancaster plays in an extremely hitter-friendly park, which in no way diminishes Hilliard’s tools.

“He’s got plus bat speed,” Wilson said. “He’s a line-drive hitter but also can put some leverage into a ball and has plus raw power.”

— Jack Etkin is a writer based in Denver