Aaron Hill

Aaron Hill

42-Year-Old Second Baseman2B
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Aaron Hill in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a three-year, $35 million contract extension with the Diamondbacks in February of 2013.
Becomes free agent
2BFree Agent  
June 30, 2017
The Giants released Hill on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
After being designated for assignment Saturday, Hill passed through waivers and wasn't the subject of a successful trade offer, so he'll be free to latch on to another organization. Whether he does that in a fantasy-relevant role remains to be seen, following his batting only .132/.250/.235 in 80 plate appearances with the Giants.
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2017
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
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2004
After a few seasons of declining production in Arizona, Hill's contract was dumped on the Brewers in a trade that also sent shortstop prospect Isan Diaz to Milwaukee. Much to everyone's surprise, the increase in playing time seemed to act as a Fountain of Youth for the veteran infielder, as Hill bounced back to put together a productive season. In just 78 games with Milwaukee, the 34-year-old matched his hit total from the previous season (72) and hit two more home runs than in 2015, helping his slash line climb back to a solid .283/.359/.421 mark. This success punched him a ticket to Boston, as the Brewers used him to bring a few prospects into their rebuilding organization. His production tapered off with the Red Sox, as a limited role suppressed his batting average to .218. A free agent this offseason, Hill is unlikely to be handed a regular role, and he would be fortunate to even land a guaranteed platoon job on a big league roster.
Since bashing 26 home runs and driving in 85 with Arizona in 2012, Hill has seen his playing time and counting stats decline for the last three seasons. Last year, Hill worked as a utility player for the Diamondbacks, getting a handful of starts at both second and third base. Following a trade to the Brewers this offseason, he will have a chance to hold down a semi-regular role as their third baseman of the short term, which should allow his counting stats to tick up. However, he is clearly not in Milwaukee's long-term plans, and younger, cheaper players like Garin Cecchini and Will Middlebrooks will be given the chance to earn at-bats as well.
The good news is that Hill remained mostly healthy last season. The bad news is that he was incredibly unproductive overall. Hill posted career-worst strikeout and walk rates and just barely hit double-digit home runs for the fifth time in six seasons. He doubly frustrated fantasy owners as he also stopped trying to steal bases either due to disinterest or Kirk Gibson tying an anchor around his leg. His numbers are in a three-year decline, and he’s now on the wrong side of 30 at a position that can age quickly. Power rarely comes back to smaller second basemen, and stolen base recoveries are even more rare. What we are left with is a one-and-a-half category player who can hit for average and some pop, but is below average in the remaining categories. On top of that, he is good for at least one stint on the disabled list each season.
Despite playing just 87 games because of a pesky hand injury, Hill was effective when he was healthy in 2013. His .291 average and .356 OBP are evidence he is still an elite fantasy option at his position as long the injury bug doesn't bite. Even with the glut of young infielders Arizona has in their system, Hill's contract should guarantee him plenty of playing time going forward, making him a good bounce-back candidate in 2014, although his rebound potential would likely take a slight hit if he's traded away from the hitter-friendly confines of Chase Field to a club looking for a proven veteran to man the keystone.
Hill had one of the biggest turnaround seasons in all of baseball in 2012, increasing his OPS from .655 to .882 and taking home a National League Silver Slugger Award for his efforts. Interestingly enough, Hill didn't make any significant adjustments to his approach that explain the sudden turnaround, although it's worth pointing out that his HR/FB mark recovered from a dreadful 4.2 percent in 2011 to 11.2 last season (career 8.4). With 26 or more homers in three of the last four seasons, 2011 looks like the outlier in Hill's track record, and short of matching last season's career-high .302 batting average, he appears to have the skill necessary to deliver similar numbers across the board again this time around.
It's been a disappointing ride for Hill since his 36-homer, 108-RBI breakout in 2009, but he seemed to find his stroke again after the Blue Jays traded him to the D-Backs for Kelly Johnson in August. When his batting average plunged toward the Mendoza Line in 2010, it was the byproduct of a sharp increase in his flyball rate (career-high 54.2 percent). Although the results weren't much better in 2011, the batted ball profile returned to Hill's career norms and there's a glimmer of hope that he may be able to return to the 20-25 homer range, albeit with a mediocre average and low OBP. Fortunately, he'll continue to benefit from a hitter-friendly home park as the D-Backs re-signed him in November with a two-year deal to remain their everyday second baseman.
Hill saw his homers (26) predictably drop from the career-high 36 of the previous season, but it was the ugly .205 batting average that torpedoed his season. He hit just .196 on balls he put in play, a far cry from his career mark (.288) and hit more like Benny Hill against southpaws (.125/.226/.225 in 120 at-bats) after punishing them in 2009 (.298/.335/.561). Expect similar power numbers and a better batting average out of the team's everyday second baseman.
Hill rebounded in a big, big way in 2009 after being limited to just 55 games the previous season with a concussion. The outburst, including a career-high 36 home runs and 108 RBI, didn't appear to coincide with a new approach at the plate as he drew just 42 walks and struck out 98 times in 734 plate appearances, figures that are in line with his career marks, so expecting a repeat performance may be wish-casting. He'll be back as the team's unquestioned starter at second base, but expect a significant price hike on the heels of his 2009 performance.
Hill was limited to just 55 games due to a concussion so it remains to be seen if the power spike (17 homers) he flashed in 2007 was for real. He was slugging just .361 at the time of his injury, an ominous sign for those banking on his power being legitimate. We'll have a better idea on his recovery from the concussion when exhibition play begins, but all signs point to a full recovery. He'll be back in the mix for the team's starting second base job.
Hill saw a massive spike in power despite a degrading batting eye (41:102 BB:K), which makes it tough to project his improvement going forward. He had poor months (.396 slugging in May, .381 in June and .382 in August), but a hot September (.406/.434/.585) saved a fading season. There's more evidence that screams "fluke" than "legit", so tread carefully here.
Hill bounced around between second base and shortstop as needed in 2006, but figures to settle in as the starting second baseman following the signing of Royce Clayton. There's not much power here, and he's expected to hit in the bottom third of the lineup again despite the departure of Frank Catalanotto.
Promoted to the majors when Corey Koskie was injured, Hill provided an immediate jolt to the Blue Jays lineup, hitting .359 through June. He slumped badly to .226 from that point on, however. There's almost no power in his bat, but he did manage to play all over the infield, which gives him some added fantasy value. With the trade of Orlando Hudson, Hill enters spring training as the likely starter at second base.
Hill will be moved to either second or third base soon, likely depending on whether Toronto can get out from under Eric Hinske's contract or if they can sign Orlando Hudson past his arbitration years. His bat won't be anything special at the hot corner since his power has been slow to come around, but an excellent 63/61 BB/K ratio at Double-A shows there's room for a power spike.
The only knock on Hill is his limited range in the field, so a move to second base figures to be his future as long as Russ Adams develops. Toronto's first pick in the 2003 draft, his power evaporated in a brief stint at Single-A. He'll move up the chain over the next year and half.
More Fantasy News
DFA'd on Saturday
2BSan Francisco Giants  
June 24, 2017
Hill was designated for assignment by the Giants on Saturday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
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Draws third straight start
2BSan Francisco Giants  
June 18, 2017
Hill will start at third base and bat seventh Sunday against the Rockies, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
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Returns to bench Wednesday
2BSan Francisco Giants  
June 14, 2017
Hill will move back to the bench with Joe Panik (thumb) making his return to the starting lineup Wednesday against the Royals.
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Will hit third Sunday
2BSan Francisco Giants  
June 11, 2017
Hill will start at second base and bat third Sunday against the Twins, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
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Being used situationally
2BSan Francisco Giants  
June 7, 2017
Hill is being used primarily as a pinch-hitter since his activation from the disabled list on May 27.
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