Derek Hill

BIOGRAPHY

Derek Hill was born December 30, 1995, in Des Moines, Iowa. He is a center fielder in the MLB.

Hill was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round, 23rd overall, in the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft. On June 11, the Tigers announced they agreed to terms on a deal with Hill that includes a $2 million signing bonus. He was previously committed to play college baseball at the University of Oregon. Hill spent 2014 with both the GCL Tigers and the Connecticut Tigers, posting a combined .208 batting average with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 47 games between both teams. Hill's 2015 season, in which he batted .238 with a .619 OPS and 25 stolen bases while playing for the West Michigan Whitecaps, was limited to only 53 games due to injury. Hill returned to West Michigan in 2016 where he improved, posting a .266 average with one home run, 31 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases. In 2017, Hill began the season with West Michigan, and after batting .285 with a .812 OPS, he was promoted to the Lakeland Flying Tigers in late August.

Hill began the 2021 season at the Tigers alternate training site in Toledo, and was assigned to the AAA Toledo Mud Hens in May. On June 3, Hill was recalled to the major league club following an injury to Victor Reyes. On August 8, Hill hit his first major league home run, a three-run drive to left-center off Zach Plesac of the Cleveland Indians. On August 11, Hill was placed on the 10-day injured list after suffering a left ribcage contusion in a collision with left fielder Akil Baddoo the previous night. In 49 games with the 2021 Tigers, Hill hit .259 with 3 home runs, 14 RBIs, and 6 stolen bases. He had the 3rd-fastest sprint speed of all major leaguers, at 30.5 feet/second.