Derek Hill

Scouting Report

Toolsy high school draftees, more than anything else, need reps and time on the field to sharpen those tools and be productive as professional players. That's even true for someone like Hill, who grew up around the game with a father, Orsino, who played and is now a scout. But the Tigers' 2014 first-rounder has had trouble gaining any traction after injuries -- a quad injury in 2015 and Tommy John surgery in late 2016 -- kept him off the field early in his career. He finally had his first fully healthy pro campaign in 2018, spending the entire season at Class A Advanced Lakeland, and progressed to Double-A for the first time in '19.

Defensively, Hill could play in the big leagues right now. He's as good a center fielder as anyone in the organization and can flat-out get the ball wherever it's hit using his outstanding closing speed. What once was a plus arm now plays more toward average, but there is room for improvement as Hill distances himself from surgery. Hill's speed is a game-changer on the bases as well, and he's proved to be a prolific basestealer - he has two 35-steal campaigns in the last three years - when healthy.

With Hill, the question continues to be if he'll hit and get on base enough to truly utilize that speed. He became more fluid with his swing and began to make some progress late in the 2018 season that carried over into his Double-A campaign. Hill's ability to impact games in the outfield and on the basepaths gives him a solid floor, and he could still become a dynamic everyday up-the-middle player if his bat continues to develop.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/28/2019	CF Derek Hill assigned to Erie SeaWolves from Lakeland Flying Tigers.
	02/25/2019	CF Derek Hill assigned to Detroit Tigers.
	06/06/2018	Lakeland Flying Tigers activated CF Derek Hill from the 7-day injured list.
	05/06/2018	Lakeland Flying Tigers placed CF Derek Hill on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to May 5, 2018.
	03/22/2018	OF Derek Hill assigned to Detroit Tigers.
	08/22/2017	CF Derek Hill assigned to Lakeland Flying Tigers from West Michigan Whitecaps.
	07/12/2017	West Michigan Whitecaps activated CF Derek Hill from the 7-day disabled list.
	06/23/2017	West Michigan Whitecaps sent OF Derek Hill on a rehab assignment to GCL Tigers West.
	04/05/2017	West Michigan Whitecaps placed CF Derek Hill on the 7-day disabled list.
	09/14/2016	West Michigan Whitecaps activated CF Derek Hill from the 7-day disabled list.
	08/09/2016	West Michigan Whitecaps placed CF Derek Hill on the 7-day disabled list.
	05/19/2016	West Michigan Whitecaps activated CF Derek Hill from the 7-day disabled list.
	05/09/2016	West Michigan Whitecaps placed CF Derek Hill on the 7-day disabled list.
	03/02/2016	CF Derek Hill assigned to Detroit Tigers.
	09/24/2015	West Michigan Whitecaps activated CF Derek Hill from the 7-day disabled list.
	07/11/2015	West Michigan Whitecaps placed CF Derek Hill on the 7-day disabled list.
	07/01/2015	West Michigan Whitecaps activated CF Derek Hill from the 7-day disabled list.
	06/15/2015	West Michigan Whitecaps placed CF Derek Hill on the 7-day disabled list.
	04/24/2015	West Michigan Whitecaps activated CF Derek Hill from the 7-day disabled list.
	04/13/2015	West Michigan Whitecaps placed CF Derek Hill on the 7-day disabled list.
	04/04/2015	CF Derek Hill assigned to West Michigan Whitecaps from Connecticut Tigers.
	08/11/2014	CF Derek Hill assigned to Connecticut Tigers from GCL Tigers.
	06/19/2014	CF Derek Hill assigned to GCL Tigers.
	06/17/2014	Detroit Tigers signed OF Derek Hill.