The Tigers are calling up former first-round pick Derek Hill to make his MLB debut in the wake of JaCoby Jones’ season-ending hand fracture, manager Ron Gardenhire announced in an appearance on 97.1 The Ticket this morning (Twitter link).
Hill, 24, hasn’t lived up to his first-round draft status and only ranks 28th among Detroit farmhands at Baseball America. However, he’s a game-changing defender with excellent speed who’ll be tasked with at least helping to replace the quietly productive Jones. Hill spent last season in Double-A, where he posted a .243/.311/.394 batting line that actually checked in better than the league average in that extremely pitcher-friendly setting (108 wRC+). He slugged a career-best 14 home runs and swiped 21 bases as well, but a 27.9 percent strikeout rate also serves to underscore the concerns that scouts harbor with regard to his hit tool.
Even if Hill doesn’t prove himself capable of holding down an everyday role with the Tigers, his speed and high-end glove create the potential for him to be a fixture on the team’s roster for the next few years. A platoon arrangement seems unlikely, as the right-handed-hitting Hill has generally fared better against righties than lefties in the minors, but he could nevertheless be a valuable fourth outfielder with some power, above-average speed and strong glovework to back up at any of the three outfield slots as necessary.
The Tigers have won six straight games to boost their record to 17-16, leaving them just one game back of the Blue Jays for the No. 8 seed in the American League under this year’s expanded postseason format.
Gardenhire for MOY?
Too bad the Tigers are in the AL Central and not the NL Central. The NL only has 7 teams at or above .500.
I would say Mattingly is
Gardy’s in a different league so they could both win it potentially
I agree that Gardy should get MOY votes. I hope they make it to the playoffs this year because it really seems like their only shot for the next 5 years or so, unless the new playoff format is extended.
Developing Mize, Skubal, Manning, Faedo, Burrows & Paredes, along w/ Riley Greene likely up next year as well as Torkelson should be a solid foundation to make playoff runs for several years to come. Yes, the White Sox and Twins are getting better too, but (on paper), the Tigers should be in the hunt for a WC if not the division crown itself. If they make it this year w/ the expanded format that’s cute, but their future is ’21-onward, not 2020.
if Detroit makes the playoffs, Gardy 100% deserves it.
Well, JaCoby was striking out at a 35% rate, so that would make 27.9% an improvement. Makes Hill look like a contact hitter in comparison. Considering the K rates today, seems like his should not be overly concerning to scouts.
the Tigers above .500,, who would have thought??
Gardenhire has alot to do with that.
This kid has done absolutely nothing with the stick since he was drafted in round 1 all those years ago. A few of those years in thr minors I believe he was at or just above the Mendoza line. He plays fantastic defense and can be a late inning defensive sub, but that’s all you’ll get from him. If Riley Greene was just a few years older he’d been called up and starting his MLB career but I understand keeping him down a year or two more. Good luck Derek Hill, you’re going to need it kid!
His career slash line is .243/.313/.349 with decent power and solid speed. Yes, he’s disappointed overall as the 23rd pick, but he’s still only 24 and how is as good a time as ever to see what he can do. If he’s flat out awful, then he’ll probably be let go. I don’t think it’s fair to say he’s done “nothing” with the stick so far though.
Hill is a gold glove caliber defender. Hitting has always been the question. Still, don’t expect him to play a lot. Tigers will run Victor Reyes out in CF for the remainder of the year unless he gets hurt or begs for a day off. Hill will be his emergency replacement, late inning defensive replacement, and PR. And he might be the one who is sent back to Toledo when Harold Castro is healthy enough to return.
The tigers Front Office is one of the worst in MLB. Borderline Delusional they let some of these guys keep getting opportunities.. They literally have 2-3 players on MLB squad that shouldn’t be above AA and wouldn’t be on any other team. Yet they have big time position players on the farm.
Gardy is a great manager. The Mets should of considered him a few years ago
Al Avila and David Chadd are both great executives.
I’ll agree that David Chadd is a good executive but I’ll argue all day against A. Avila. He is actually quite the opposite of good. The only drafts he’s had worth a damn were when he was picking #1 overall and had Casey Mize and Spencer Torkelson sitting there so that was easy to ace. He has had THREE good hits in the draft and those were T. Skubal, R. Greene and M. Manning. Outside of that you’ve had ALOT of Derek Hills and Alex Faedos and Beau Burrows. What he’s gotten back in trades has been abysmal and as for FA signings? Let’s see, Jordan Zimmerman, Jordy Mercer, Josh Harrison, etc… What exactly makes him a “great” executive?
@guru
Giving JaCoby opportunities seems to have worked. Same with Candelario and Reyes. Their bullpen is outstanding this year! Norris, Alexander, Brian Garcia, Schreiber, Soto, Farmer, Cisnero, and Jimenez have all been given multiple opportunities and it seems to be working. There is no reason to give up on players quickly when rebuilding. While their see agent signings have not worked out well, kudos to the player development side!
i said 2-3 players. They literally have given 2-3 position players 3 seasons to figure it out and they still can’t hit above .150. 1 season, then move on. Huge prospects waiting on them to get out of the way and these AA players are taking the reps. FO is in over their head Also one of the worst at trading in mlb.
don’t forget they also hired dave littlefield and he hast the most important position since theyre rebuilding. Not a good combo. lol
28 man roster has really helped Gardy and Tigers. Lots of pitchers to mix and match.
You’re down on Alex Faedo? I think they’ll trade Turnbull for hitting, and then I’d like to see a rotation of Mize Skubal(he’s not ready) Manning Fulmer/Norris/whoever. Avila mostly strikes out on signings and trades.