Mitch Hilligoss
| AB | 2079 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .274 |
| OBP | .325 |
| SLG | .355 |
| HR | 14 |
- Full name Mitchell Matthew Hilligoss
- Born 06/17/1985 in Windsor, IL
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Purdue
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Drafted in the 6th round (194th overall) by the New York Yankees in 2006 (signed for $130,000).
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Hilligoss is the state's best pure hitter. He won the Big 10 Conference batting title with a .404 average in 2005--surpassing ex-major leaguer Archi Cianfrocco's Purdue hits record with 92 along the way--and finished second with a .386 mark this spring. Hilligoss employs a simple lefthanded swing, uses the whole field and has average speed. He has some range and arm strength, but his hands aren't soft enough for him to stay at shortstop. Scouts say third base and the outfield are two possibilities, and converting him to catcher might be worth a shot. A club looking for a polished college bat could take him in the first 10 rounds, and the Giants and Yankees are believed to have interest.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Hilligoss set a low Class A South Atlantic League record with a 38-game hitting streak in 2007. He's another Yankees prospect without at toolsy profile, but he's such a good hitter that he'll likely reach the big leagues. He had an excellent track record at Purdue, where he won the Big 10 Conference batting title (.404) in 2005 and finished second (.386) in 2006. A dead low-ball hitter, Hilligoss has excellent plate coverage and can drive any pitch below the thigh to all fields, spraying line drives from pole to pole. His approach keeps him from hitting for power, and his confidence in his hitting ability keeps his walk totals low, but it also contributes to his excellent two-strike approach and sheer volume of hits--he led the SAL with 161. Hilligoss is a grinder with excellent makeup, as evidenced by his teammates' delighted reactions every time he extended his hitting streak. He cut across all social groups in the Charleston clubhouse to become a team leader. Defensively, he fits best at third base, where his hands and arm are average or a tick above. He played shortstop at season's end, but lacks the range for the position. With his lefthanded bat and ability to play anywhere in the infield, he could be a useful utility player. If everything comes together, he could be a regular along the lines of Adam Kennedy. Hilligoss could skip a level up to Double-A with a strong spring training.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Hilligoss' track record says he'll hit. He batted .404 and .386 in his final two seasons at Purdue, .309 with wood bats in the Central Illinois Collegiate League in 2005, and .292 in his pro debut to finish 10th in the NY-P batting race. One scout who saw Hilligoss as an amateur compared his swing, offensive potential and overall game to Frank Catalanotto. As with Catalanotto, Hilligoss' forté is getting the barrel of the bat to the ball consistently, driving balls to the gaps and driving pitchers crazy with an advanced two-strike approach. He also hangs in well against lefthanders and hit .397 against them this summer. The Catalanotto comparisons extend to Hilligoss' defense as well. Though he profiles best as an infielder, he doesn't have the hands or range to stick in the middle of the diamond. He's a better fit at third base, but he doesn't project to hit for the power wanted there or on an outfield corner. Hilligoss will have to hit for a high average to be a factor--and he has done that at every level so far.
