If Sam Hilliard is going to ever fulfill his potential, it won’t be with the Rockies.
The outfielder, who struggled mightily last season and finished up in Triple-A Albuquerque, was traded to the Braves Sunday in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Dylan Spain.
Hilliard, who is out of minor league options, was a candidate to be outrighted.
The 28-year-old appeared in 70 games last season, hitting .184 (32-for-174) with a .544 OPS. Although he lowered his strikeout rate from 36.6% in 2021 to 28.5%, he hit only two home runs.
The 6-foot-5 Hilliard, selected in the 15th round of the 2015 draft out of Wichita State, has speed and power and can play any outfield position.