Hilliard hitting stride, may help offense
Sam Hilliard is starting to find his groove, which is a very good thing as the Rockies enter the final three weeks of the season with a playoff spot still in view.
The team could certainly use an offensive boost from the rookie outfielder.
The left-handed-hitter entered Saturday night’s game in Los Angeles having slugged five home runs and a triple in his last 11 games. Over his last 13 games, he’s hitting .325 (13-for-40).
Plus, he’s made some history. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Hilliard is the first visiting player to ever hit five home runs at Dodger Stadium as a rookie. He mashed two at the iconic ballpark in 2019 and had homered in each of his past three games in Los Angeles.
“I definitely believe that it’s a combination of getting more reps and more opportunities, as well as just really trying to relax out there,” he said Friday night after hitting a solo home run in Colorado’s 10-6 loss to the Dodgers. “I kind of remember when things started to turn for me at the plate. It was really just a conscious decision that I made to not put so much pressure on myself and remind myself to have fun.”
Hilliard, batting .250 with a .848 OPS, credits veteran first baseman Daniel Murphy for reminding him to keep things light. Manager Bud Black credits hitting coaches Dave Magadan and Jeff Salazar for working with Hilliard to whittle down his high strikeout rate, though it still sits at 32%.
“Sam continues to shorten his swing,” Black said. “I think the effort level is decreasing a little bit, too. That doesn’t mean that he’s not swinging with authority. But sometimes, with aggressiveness, you can get too big and your effort a little bit of longness in your swing. And that’s where Sam was a little bit earlier this year.”
“So we’ll see how it looks, but it’s a good sign that he’s here with us. He’s out of satellite camp, feeling healthy.”
Once Dahl returns, he needs to produce. When he went on the IL, he was in the midst of a careerworst 0-for-17 hitless streak that dropped his average to .189. Dahl’s on-base percentage is just .258.
Right-hander Wade Davis through a bullpen session Saturday, and though Black continues to say that Davis is making progress there is no timetable for Davis’ return. …
Utility player Chris Owings has played two games at the alternative site but he’s still experiencing some soreness with his left hamstring and his return is not imminent.