Carolina notes: Hill running smarter for Sox
Tyler Hill's instincts are generally spot-on when an opposing pitcher is in the stretch.The 22-year-old reads the pitcher's tendencies from his spot just off the bag at first base and uses a quick initial step to steal second base. It is a trait he's refined through three full seasons in
Tyler Hill's instincts are generally spot-on when an opposing pitcher is in the stretch.
The 22-year-old reads the pitcher's tendencies from his spot just off the bag at first base and uses a quick initial step to steal second base. It is a trait he's refined through three full seasons in the Boston Red Sox farm system.
With plenty of natural speed, swiping bases has come easy for the Delaware native. He was tied for 18th in all of Minor League Baseball with 42 stolen bases last season at Class A Greenville, and he's fourth in the Carolina League with 18 steals so far this year for Class A Advanced Salem.
Stealing bases at a rapid pace wasn't enough, however. Hill, a 19th-round selection in the 2014 Draft, wanted to transform into a complete base runner. He refined his approach from being a terror on the bases to becoming smarter rounding the bases.
Instead of simply putting his head down and trying to take the extra base whenever he could, Hill learned to read the flight of the ball and outfielders' paths so he knows when he can go first to third or station to station.
"Last year I thought I got myself out way too much despite the stolen bases and stuff," Hill said. "It's … just being smarter and understanding the situations and just learning the game a little better helped out a lot."
Hill's improved base running has coincided with the work he's put in at the plate. Despite batting 16 points worse than last season with Greenville, Hill is drawing more walks and striking out less, which is giving him an opportunity to get on base and utilize his speed to get into scoring position. His walk rate is up to 11.9 percent from 7.2 in 2016 while his K rate is down to 11.5 percent from 14.4.
He scored a career-high 65 runs in 119 games last season, and he's on pace to top that mark this season with Salem. Hill has scored 42 runs through 73 games.
"It doesn't matter if it's a hit, walk or error; if I get on first base, my goal is to score or at least get into scoring position for our guys to give us a chance to score," Hill said.
Hill hasn't been stealing bases this season as frequently as he did last season -- he's attempted to steal 22 times compared to 50 attempts last season -- as he continues to understand situations when he needs to take the extra base.
"Pitchers in this league are a little smaller compared to the South Atlantic League," Hill said. "They all have quicker times more often, things like that, but it's just more of a focus kind of thing. You can't just run at will. You've got to pick your spots and know when's a good time to go and a good time to hold up. Controlling the aggression has been the biggest adjustment."
Hill referenced a June 16 game against Lynchburg in which he "made a little mistake" on the base paths as part of controlling his aggression.
Bobby Dalbec reached on an infield single deep in the hole at shortstop, but Hill rounded third base too wide in anticipation that there could be a throw to first. Instead, Hillcats shortstop Alexis Pantoja threw to third, and Hill was tagged out to end the inning.
It is the type of play Hill focuses on so he can learn and "keep on going" with his development.
"It's been a big adjustment," he said. "Just working through a little rough patch now at the plate, but nothing too crazy. Everything's baseball; just trying to make the adjustments as quick as I can, keep working and just keep playing my game."
In brief
A dent in the armor:Zac Lowther has made as many starts with the Frederick Keys as he made with the Delmarva Shorebirds this season, and the Baltimore Orioles' No. 14 prospect had posted nearly identical statistics in both stops until a July 1 start against the Hillcats. The southpaw, a 2017 Draft pick, allowed four earned runs in seven innings for his first loss with the Keys. It snapped a stretch of seven consecutive starts allowing one run or fewer and raised his ERA in the Carolina League to 1.67 in six starts.
From 'pen to rotation: Salem right-hander Daniel Gonzalez began the season as a long reliever. If a situation called for three or four innings, Gonzalez was the man. The 22-year-old Venezuelan was recently moved into the starting rotation, and he's eating up innings. Gonzalez has pitched at least six innings in all three starts, and the Red Sox are 3-0 in those outings. He recently allowed an unearned run on four hits over a season-high seven innings on June 29 against Carolina.
New home, better results:Wilson Garcia was traded from the Phillies' organization to the Orioles on May 1, and he was assigned to Frederick. The move has paid dividends for the 24-year-old, who is attempting to move above Class A Advanced for the first time. Garcia is hitting .314 with 12 home runs and 47 RBIs in 54 games with the Keys. He is two homers shy of setting a career high and is on pace to set a career high in RBIs, eclipsing the mark of 60 he set last season with Clearwater in the Phils' system.
Damien Sordelett is a contributor to MiLB.com.
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring