Aaron Hill Stats & Scouting Report

AB	5646
AVG	.266
OBP	.323
SLG	.417
HR	162

Full name Aaron Walter Hill
Born 03/21/1982 in Visalia, CA
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Louisiana State
Debut 05/20/2005
Drafted in the 1st round (13th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003 (signed for $1,675,000).

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In a draft thin on shortstops, Hill is one of the few with legitimate offensive potential. There are questions as to whether he can handle that position all the way up to the majors, but he'll get the shot to prove he can't. His instincts and gritty makeup get the most out of his tools--which aren't lacking. He has enough arm to make plays from the hole, along with range and quickness. He's not flashy but gets the job done. At worst, the Southeastern Conference player of the year will be an all-around second baseman. Offensively, he has a beautiful swing, above-average speed and control of the strike zone. He doesn't have plus home-run power, but he can hit the occasional longball and line balls into the gaps. In a lot of ways, he is similar to former Clemson star Khalil Greene, who went 13th overall to the Padres last year. Hill could go in the same spot to the Blue Jays and won't make it past the Athletics, who choose 25th and 26th.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Hill was the Southeastern Conference player of the year in 2003, and the Jays drafted him with the idea he'd move quickly. He finished his first season at high Class A Dunedin and spent his first full year in Double-A. When Russ Adams bowed out of the Futures Game with a ribcage injury, Hill replaced him on the U.S. roster and claimed the game's MVP award. Hill offers average to above-average tools across the board, but what sets him apart is his ability to optimize them. He's short to the ball with an easy, compact swing, makes adjustments and uses the entire field. Hill should have at least average power as he learns how to incorporate his lower half for more leverage. He has a tremendous arm and shows good speed and instincts on the basepaths. While there's little doubt Hill profiles as an everyday big leaguer, some scouts question his quickness and footwork at shortstop. He compensates for a lack of range by making good reads on balls. Hill should start 2005 at Triple-A Syracuse, with his major league debut on the horizon. Whether he or Russ Adams sticks at shortstop and forces the other to move has yet to be determined.
Hill was drafted in the seventh round out of high school by the Angels, and soon after the draft got a full scholarship offer from Louisiana State. He had a stellar college career, earning Southeastern Conference player-of-the-year honors in 2003. Hill has average to plus tools and the skills to match. His strong throwing arm helps him make plays from the hole at shortstop. He keeps his swing short, and has shown average power (with more to come) and running ability. His fine plate discipline and off-the-charts makeup sealed the deal for the Blue Jays. Hill doesn't quite have Russ Adams' range at shortstop, and probably doesn't have enough to cover ground at the position on artificial turf. He'll have to use his tremendous instincts and learn to position himself perfectly to make up for his lack of quickness. Some scouts see Hill becoming an offensive second baseman a la Bret Boone if he fully realizes his power potential. At worst, he should be a solid big leaguer at either second or third. Hill should reach Double-A at some point in 2004.

Minor League Top Prospects

He lasted just six weeks in the IL before the Blue Jays needed him to sub for the injured Corey Koskie, and Hill hit so well in the majors that he never returned to Syracuse. He batted .359 in his first month and a half with Toronto. Hill has a compact stroke and uses the entire field. He started using his lower half more in his swing, allowing him to drive balls with more consistency. He projects as a .280-.290 hitter with 15-20 homers annually. Hill plays better than his tools, but his solid-average range and plus arm may not be enough to keep him at shortstop. Some observers questioned his first-step quickness, footwork and double-play pivot. He does read hitters exceptionally well but probably fits better at second or third base.
The Blue Jays believed Hill offered the perfect blend of advanced skills and tools when they made him their first-round pick last year and his development has followed suit. He's an intelligent player with good aptitude and the physical ability to accomplish the things he's learned in his brief professional career. He showed off his power potential at the All-Star Future's Game where he was the MVP, though his power is mostly to the gaps currently. His approach is sound at the plate and he has a knack for working his way into hitter's counts. He uses the entire field and is an excellent situational hitter. Some doubt he has the quickness to play shortstop--especially on Astroturf--in the majors. He makes up for his average speed and range by making good reads on balls and is learning how to better position himself during opposing at-bats. His arm is above average and plays well at both infield spots on the left side. "For a guy that has only been out of college for a year, for him to do what he has done at this level speaks very well for his future," an American League area scout said. "I think right now he's a shortstop in the big leagues. He has not shown me any reason why he couldn't play there."
Hill made the transition to wood bats with ease, pounding NY-P pitchers for a month before getting promoted to the high Class A Florida State League. Using a straightaway stance, quiet approach and short stroke, Hill stays back on offspeed pitches and drives the ball to all fields. He projects to have average power. While there's little question he'll hit, managers and scouts wondered whether his limited range would allow him to stay at shortstop. Most managers thought he had enough bat to play third base, and he's athletic enough to handle second. "I really liked his approach at the plate and I think he is definitely going to be a good hitter," a National League scout said. "But I'm not sure he's a shortstop. He's a really good prospect with the bat and I think he will be a really solid player in the big leagues, but it will probably be at third base."