Derek Hill #29

Derek Jerome Hill...married wife, Blaire, on 1/12/24 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico…graduated from Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, Calif....Is the cousin of 17-year Major League veteran Darryl Strawberry...father, Orsino Hill, spent 12 Minor League seasons with the Cincinnati (1982- 87), Montreal (1988), Pittsburgh (1988), Chicago-NL (1989), Chicago-AL (1990-91), Oakland (1992) and California (1993) organizations, serving as a hitting coach and scout after his retirement from playing…had committed to play collegiately at the University of Oregon, but forwent commitment after being selected by the Tigers in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2014 MLB Draft…was ranked as the 27th-best prep prospect (fifth OF) in the class of 2014 by Perfect Game.

2023

Signed a Minor League contract with an invite to Washington’s Major League camp on 11/15/22 and appeared in 13 games for the Nationals, batting .170 (8-47) with one double and one RBI, but spent the balance of the campaign with Triple-A Rochester…began season on Rochester’s (AAA) 7-day Injured List with a strained right hamstring…following brief 4-game rehab stint with Wilmington (A+), the outfielder reported to Rochester where he served as the Red Wings’ primary centerfielder…batted .317/.373/.509/.882 (102-322) with 11 HR, 51 RBI, 29 BB and 16 SB in 83 Triple-A games, ranking among International League leaders (min. 350 PA) in BA (10th) and SLG (18th)…hit .397 (31-78) over season-high 19-G hit streak from 5/14-6/7.

2022

Opened the season on the Injured List with a right hamstring strain...Was recalled on April 22 and appeared in 31 games before being optioned to Triple-A on June 14...Went 7-for- 16 (.438) with a homer, RBI, two walks and three runs scored during a five-game hitting streak, May 25-31...Was designated for assignment on Aug. 1 and signed with the Mariners organization.

2021

Limited to 49 games with the Tigers in 2021 due to three separate stints on the injured list...also played in 34 games with Triple-A Toledo...Began the season with the Mud Hens, hitting .355/.417/.526 with five doubles, one triple, two home runs and 11 RBI in 21 games during May...had multiple hits in six consecutive games from May 21-27...Picked up the first stolen base of his Major League career June 5 at Chicago (AL)...Drove in his first big league run and notched his first career multi-hit game June 8 vs. Seattle...Stole a base in three straight games from June 5-8, becoming the first Tiger to do so since Niko Goodrum swiped a bag in three straight games from April 5-8, 2018...On the injured list from June 10-29 with a right shoulder sprain...Belted a pair of home runs and drove in four July 8 at Omaha...Recorded six stolen bases in his first 11 games, the first Tigers player to have six-or-more steals in his first 11 games since Rajai Davis in 2014...Went 3x6 with two RBI on July 28 vs. Baltimore...marked his first career three-hit game...Hit his first big league triple July 30 vs. Baltimore, going 2x4...reached base safely in 10-of-12 games from July 16-30, batting .314/.426/.353 with 11 runs scored, a triple and five RBI...Launched the first home run of his career Aug. 8 at Cleveland, a three-run shot off Zach Plesac...also established a career-high with three RBI...Sidelined from August 11-21 with a left ribcage contusion...Homered in back-to-back games for the first time in his career Aug. 30 vs. Minnesota and Aug. 31 vs. Oakland...Hit a walk-off double in the 11th inning Sept. 14 vs. Milwaukee, his first career walk-off hit...Placed on the injured list on Sept. 19 with a left knee sprain and missed the rest of the season.

2020

Made his Major League debut with the Tigers in 2020, appearing in 15 games... Was recalled from the alternate training site on Sept. 2, marking his first appearance on the active roster... Played mostly as a defensive replacement and pinch runner, combining to go 1x11 with three runs scored…became the seventh player in franchise history to appear in 15-or-more games during his rookie season and have 11-or-fewer at-bats... Made his Major League debut as a defensive replacement on Sept. 4 at Minnesota in game two of the doubleheader, going 0x1 with a strikeout... Reached base safely for the first time in his Major League career on Sept. 17 vs. Cleveland, drawing a walk and later coming around to score... Picked up the first hit of his big league career on Sept. 26 at Kansas City, a first-inning single off Carlos Hernández... Ranked as the No. 22 prospect in the Tigers organization and rated as the best defensive outfielder by Baseball America.

2019

Played in a career-high 120 games in 2019 with Double A Erie...Established career bests in runs scored (78), hits (114), doubles (19), home runs (14) and RBI (45)...Finished the season tied for the Eastern League lead in runs scored, while he was seventh in total bases (185) and tied for 10th in triples (5)....Had a career-high five hits, including a double, with a RBI on August 7 at Portland...Played for Mesa in the Arizona Fall League after the season, and hit .254/.323/.475 with four doubles, three home runs and six RBI.

2018

Led the Florida State League with 35 stolen bases in 2018 as he spent the entire season with Single A Lakeland...Sidelined from May 5-23 with left knee tendinitis.

2017

Played in just 58 games in 2017 after missing the first half of the season due to an injury...Had a 10-game hitting streak from August 5-15, batting .390/.458/.610 with three doubles, three triples and six RBI...Sidelined from April 6-July 12 with a right elbow ulnar collateral ligament injury...Finished a triple shy of the cycle on August 20 at Bowling Green, going 4x6 with a double, a home run and two RBI...Ranked as the No. 28 prospect in the Tigers organization by Baseball America following the season.

2016

Spent the entire 2016 season with Single A West Michigan...Named a Tigers Minor League Gold Glove winner as an outfielder and was selected an organization All- Star by MiLB.com...Ranked second in the Midwest League with 35 stolen bases...Sidelined from May 8-19 with a concussion...Had four hits, including a double and two triples, and drove in two runs on June 29 vs. Bowling Green... added a second four-hit game on July 22 vs. Peoria...Played in 25 games during June, and hit .327/.372/.452 with six doubles, two triples, one home run and nine RBI...Sidelined from August 9-September 14 with a right elbow sprain...Rated as the 10th-best prospect in the Tigers organization by Baseball America following the season.