The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Prospect ready for first start with Lake County
Second-round pick gets start vs. Loons
Captains pitcher Juan Hillman is a talented young man with a free spirt. “You’ll never see me without a smile on my face,” he says (besides this photo he took for us). David S. Glasier has the story.
Captains pitcher Juan Hillman is a talented young man with a free spirit.
A quick look at the home page of Hillman’s Twitter account, @RealJuanHillman, will provide clues about Hillman’s outlook on life. And check out the brightly-colored sport jacket.
“I’m a very positive person. You’ll never see me without a smile on my face,” Hillman said.
The 6-foot-2, 183-pound left-hander will get his first start in a Lake County uniform on Aug. 10 when the Captains host the Great Lakes (Mich.) Loons in the opener of a three-game series at Classic Park.
Hillman, 19, was selected in the second round of the 2015 draft out of Olympia High School in the Orlando, Florida. As a senior at Olympia High School, Hillman was 10-0 with a 1.44 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 62 innings.
Those numbers and a pitch repertoire that includes a fastball that tops out at 92 mph persuaded the Indians to use the 59th overall pick on Hillman.
The top end of that draft also produced two other highly regarded pitching prospects, current Lake County teammate Brady Aiken (first round 17th overall) and Tristan McKenzie (first round, competitive balance, 42nd overall).
Hillman quickly signed with the Indians and received an $825,000 signing bonus.
His first two seasons in professional baseball were a mixed bag. At Rookie League Arizona in 2015, he was 0-2 with a 4.13 ERA in eight starts.
Last season, at short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley, Hillman was 2-0 with a 1.03 ERA midway through the season and was selected for the New York-Penn League All-Star Game.
Hillman didn’t fare nearly as well in the second half and finished 3-4 with a 4.43 ERA.
“My second-half numbers weren’t good at all,” Hillman said. “I ran out of gas. That’s the only way I can describe it. I learned from it. It was very humbling.
”The lesson I learned from last season is to take care of my body,” Hillman added. “I didn’t get in the training room as much as I should have. This year, I’m going to get in a routine and stick with it.”
Hillman is the son of Jamilla and Robert Hillman. His godfather is former major-league pitcher Tom “Flash” Gordon. Hillman said he grew up with Gordon’s son, Nick. The two played together in high school. Nick Gordon, a shortstop, was taken in the first round of the 2014 draft by Minnesota and now is a highly rated prospect at the Double-A level.
Captains manager Larry Day has taken note of Hillman’s personality.
“Light-hearted is the best way to describe him,” Day said. “No matter the situation, he makes it positive.”
There is a serious side to Hillman that balances his generally light-hearted demeanor. He is completely serious about rising through the Indians’ farm system and getting to the big leagues.
“Of course. I’ve dreamt about being on top of that mound at Progressive Field, wearing the Cleveland uniform,” Hillman said. “I hope it comes true for me, my family and my teammates.”
Hillman also cited the lessons he’s absorbed in two-plus seasons as a professional ballplayer.
“You learn there are things you can’t post on social media and to not argue with the fans,” Hillman said. “There sure are a lot of can’t-dos and shouldn’tdos.”