Rockies’ Sam Hilliard expresses confidence as he returns to major-league club
Pressure? Sure. Extra pressure? No, Sam Hilliard insists.
The Rockies’ outfielder was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday after playing 16 games with the Isotopes. Hilliard, 28, was in the starting lineup Tuesday night, hitting ninth, against the Padres. It was another chance to show that he belongs in the majors.
“There is always going to be a little bit of pressure, but I think I’m doing a better job than I used to of dealing with that,” Hilliard said. “I look at things in a little bit different way now and I’m coming up knowing I just have to be me.”
Manager Bud Black knew that Hilliard needed a major tuneup at Triple-A, but Black also believes Hilliard can handle this upcoming test and is confident that Hilliard won’t put too much emphasis on a handful of games.
“I think, I hope, that Sam is experienced enough to know that you can’t do that,” Black said. “Sam’s at his best is when he’s relaxed and playing the game with a confidence and a poise that enables him to let his talents show.”
Hilliard made the opening day roster and there were hopes he would be a dynamic piece of Colorado’s offense. But Hilliard scuffled to a .161/.238/.268 slash line with just two home runs in 126 plate appearances. His strikeout rate was 27%.
When he was demoted to Triple-A on June 16, Hilliard was in the midst of an 0-for-20 slump that included 10 strikeouts.
But Hilliard said he regained his batting stroke and refined his approach in 16 games at Triple-A, where he slashed .279/.370/.541 with four home runs, four doubles, 12 RBIs and nine walks. His strikeout rate was just 14.3%.
Hilliard spent extra time in the batting cage and worked on a number of mechanical issues that he hopes will prevent him from pounding the ball into the ground, something that hurt him with the Rockies.
Hilliard admitted it hurt to be optioned to the minors and said that it took him about a week to regain his rhythm at the plate. But he approached his time with Albuquerque as a necessary part of his job.
“I knew from experience last year when I was sent down that you have to be where your feet are,” he said. “You can’t be thinking, ‘Oh, I have to do this or that to get back up to the big leagues.’
“You have to accept the reality. I was (playing) in a league where I have already had success. But it’s still hard. You can’t go and have immediate success just because you did it once. You have to lock it in and make it happen.”
C.J. sits. All-star first baseman C.J. Cron was not in the starting lineup Tuesday as he continues to deal with a bruised left wrist.
Cron went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a sacrifice fly in Colorado’s 6-5 loss to the Padres on Monday and realized that he should not have been in the lineup. Cron told Black as much after the game and explained that the sore wrist affected his swing more than he thought it would.
Cron was hit by a 94.4 mph fastball from Arizona’s Zac Gallen in Friday’s game at Chase Field and did not play Saturday or Sunday.
“It’s day to day,” Black said. “The wrist is just sore.”
Cron hopes to return to the lineup soon, and the injury likely won’t prevent him from participating in his first All-Star Game next Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.
On Deck
Padres RHP Joe Musgrove (8-2, 2.09 ERA) at Rockies RHP Chad Kuhl (6-5, 4.02)
6:40 p.m., Wednesday, Coors Field
TV: ATTRM
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
The Padres treated Kuhl rudely on June 10 at Petco Park, reaching him for five runs on eight hits and five walks in a 9-0 victory. Kuhl was pulled after 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander notched his sixth win of the season last week at Arizona, allowing four runs on six hits across five innings in Colorado’s 6-5 victory. Kuhl is 3-2 with a 3.27 ERA in eight starts at Coors Field this season and is 1-1 with a 6.08 ERA in five career starts against San Diego.
Musgrove will join third baseman Manny Machado at next Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium. Musgrove, who has an impressive 0.93 WHIP, opened the season with 12 straight quality starts, a franchise record to begin a season. He’s coming off a strong performance against the Giants when he struck out six over seven scoreless innings while allowing just one hit, walking four and hitting a batter in the Padres’ 2-1 extra-inning win. Musgrove did not allow a hit until LaMonte Wade’s leadoff double in the sixth inning. Wade was the only baserunner to make it past first base against Musgrove. The right-hander’s been very good against the Rockies, going 4-2 with a 1.21 and a .086 WHIP. He’s 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts at Coors Field.
Trending: The Rockies entered Tuesday night’s game against the Padres with a 15-10 record against the National League West over their last 25 games. The Rockies won seven straight from June 11-28, their longest winning streak against the NL West since 2017.
At issue: Connor Joe entered Tuesday’s game having not hit a home run in 108 at-bats. He has five homers this season.
Pitching probables
Thursday: Padres LHP Blake Snell (1-5, 4.66) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (4-7, 4.70), 1:10 p.m., ATTRM
Friday: Pirates LHP Jose Quintana (2-4, 3.59) at Rockies RHP Germa Marquez (5-7, 5.66), 6:40 p.m., Apple TV
