Sam Hilliard

Lore & Background

Hilliard attended Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Texas, where he played baseball and basketball. He started his college baseball career at Navarro College, then transferred to Crowder College, and later attended Wichita State University. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 31st round of the 2014 MLB draft but did not sign, and was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 15th round of the 2015 MLB draft.

In Their Own Story

The sun dips below the Great American Ball Park skyline as the seventh inning unfolds. Sam Hilliard steps into the batter's box, the weight of the moment pressing on him. With two outs and the bases loaded, he grips the bat, eyes locked on the pitcher. The crowd holds its breath. A fastball comes in—inside, high—and Hilliard swings with all his might. The crack of the bat echoes through the stadium as the ball soars over the left-field fence. 'Hill-Train' has struck again, sending the Reds faithful into a frenzy.

Reader's Guide

Hilliard made his MLB debut with the Rockies on August 27, 2019, and recorded his first major league hit, a two-run home run. He has played for the Rockies in multiple stints and was traded to the Atlanta Braves in November 2022. He signed with the KT Wiz of the KBO League on December 3, 2025.

Did You Know?

• Hilliard set the Albuquerque Isotopes career record for home runs on May 1, 2024, with his 67th home run for the team.
• His mother, Tamara Hext, was Miss Texas in 1984 and fourth-runner-up in the Miss America pageant that year.
• His father, Jim Hilliard, played for the Texas Longhorns football team and was an orthopedic surgeon for 35 years.