Hill just filling in for now
Jays’ off-season moves to decide rookie’s position Injured Hudson remains the team’s second baseman
Aaron Hill will be the Blue Jays’ de facto second baseman now that Orlando Hudson’s sprained left ankle is likely to keep him out of the lineup, at least through this weekend.
Jays fans who have admired Hill since he broke into the big leagues in May have long since expected he would one day supplant Hudson at the position and hang on to the post for years to come. Where Hill’s career path takes him, though, remains fluid. There is nothing to suggest the Jays have abandoned that secondbaseman- of- the- future line of thinking. But there’s nothing to suggest they are embracing it either.
Ever since Hill stormed into the big leagues five months ago, it was assumed that he would be the club’s future second baseman. That line of thinking, however, was never publicly endorsed by GM J. P. Ricciardi.
It was also assumed that Hudson, despite his Gold Glove candidacy this season and development into a cornerstone of the franchise, would be moved in support of Hill’s ascendancy.
Ricciardi enjoys all the speculation on Hill’s future, but remains non- committal.
This off- season promises to be one of the most intriguing in recent years, one that should produce a wildly different and far more competitive Jays lineup come spring training. Hudson may or may not be with the team by then. Several other players — Frank Catalanotto, Alex Rios, Eric Hinske and even superstar Vernon Wells — have also been mentioned around baseball as players to watch for this winter. The certainty about Hudson is that the Jays own his playing rights for the next three seasons. He is among the top two defensive second basemen in the league, and it will take a very attractive offer to pry him loose.
“ We have no ( current) inclination of playing Hill at second base and taking Orlando away from there,” Ricciardi said yesterday. “ Aaron will get the bulk of the duty ( at second) now that Orlando is hurt. We don’t know how long Orlando will be out and we haven’t given any thought ( to Hill) beyond that other than we want to get him in the lineup.”
Hill, who has one game’s experience at second at the pro level, appears much better suited at third base. Internally, the Jays are weighing that option as much as any other.
Hill has taken ground balls at second during batting practice, but has yet to go through the training grinder directed by coach Brian Butterfield.
Butterfield, a New England Patriots aficionado who goes one-on-one with his charges and works them like a receivers or linebackers coach, spent almost every day of the week with Hudson during his apprenticeship at second. The routine saw the two on the field at 3 p. m., hours before anyone else was even dressed in uniform, working on the nuances of the position. Soon after, Hudson was seen with pieces of hockey tape stuck to his glove and locker wall, the tape holding scribbled memos of Butterfield’s teachings.
Hill has yet to go through that process. It’s an indication that nothing’s set in stone yet. “No one’s told me anything about that ( being the everyday second baseman),” Hill said.
“It’s so much easier having Butter ( Butterfield) as an infield coach. Just watching Orlando play, you can’t help but learn a lot. I adjusted well to third this year, and working hard really helps everything along. If I do that ( with second base), it will feel like home.” Hudson, who suffered the injury in Baltimore on Wednesday, will be sidelined through the weekend series in Tampa.