Sam Hilliard is returning to the Rockies.
The club claimed the left-handed hitting outfielder off waivers from the Orioles on Wednesday.
“We are looking for competition for that fifth outfielder spot,” general manager Bill Schmidt said. “Right now, Sam will be competing with (Bradley) Zimmer for that spot. At least for now. We’ll see how it works out.”
This spring, the club has been looking for a lefty hitter who can play all three outfield spots and give center fielder Brenton Doyle a breather. Zimmer signed a minor league deal earlier this month with an invitation to big-league camp.
“We were looking for somebody who has some speed and gives us defense,” Schmidt said. “Sammy can fill that role. We’ll see what happens, but we were looking for the best player we can to fill that role. And that has been my point all spring training, that we want to see that competition.”
To make room on the 40-man roster, Colorado placed right-handed starter Antonio Senzatela on the 60-day injured list. Senzatela is rehabbing from the Tommy John elbow surgery he underwent last July.
Hilliard, 30, was selected by the Rockies in the 15th round of the 2015 draft. The Rockies hoped the fast, athletic Hilliard would become an everyday player, but it didn’t work out. He debuted in 2019 and appeared in 214 games with Colorado from 2019-22. He slashed .212/.294/.423 with 29 home runs, 15 steals and 71 RBIs. A high strikeout rate has always been a problem: Hilliard’s 33.8% career rate is well above the major league average of 22.9%.
Colorado traded Hilliard to Atlanta in exchange for minor league right-hander Dylan Spain in November 2022. Hilliard played in 40 games with Atlanta last season, slashing .236/.295/.431 with three home runs and six RBIs. His strikeout rate, however, soared to 42.3%. He was acquired by Baltimore off waivers from Atlanta last November.
Hilliard’s 2023 season ended with a heel injury that landed him on the 60-day injured list.
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