Most of us around Da Box are excited to see the newest crop of Jays about to take their first baby steps into professional baseball. The vast majority of us are getting to know these players for the first time; these are players about whom we have the stats, but know almost nothing else other than what Baseball America or other scouting sites have told us.
But to others all over the U.S., these players are as familiar as their local ballfield. All of these players come from college programs that have their own rabid fans and followers. So I decided to seek a few out and ask them about some of our newest Blue Jays... what they are like as players. And I'm happy to say that many have answered the call. This morning, we have our first installment, as Tim Robertson of SimmonsField.com (a great site about Missouri Tigers baseball, where he's known as "Trripleplay") stops by to tell us about third-round pick Danny Hill. Take it away, Tim, and thanks!
Danny Hill
by Tim Robertson
I'm no expert scout, so I can't give you all the details on his "tools" and how he "projects". But I am a baseball fan who has watched Danny Hill for two years at the University of Missouri, and I can tell you a bit about his background and my impressions of him.
When "Danny Hill, right-handed pitcher" was announced as the third round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays, a lot was left unsaid. Three years ago, not only would few have guessed Hill would be drafted in the third round, but not a soul - including Danny himself - would have supposed it would be as a pitcher.
Hill was signed by McClennan Community College in Texas as a third baseman, and played his freshman year at the hot corner. It was only after Hill was pressed into service as a pitcher in an intrasquad game toward the end of that season that his coach knew he could pitch. The following year, Hill moved from third base to the mound, and the rest is history.
Transferring to the University of Missouri for his junior year, Hill struggled to adjust to the level of competition a Big XII team faces. With only a single year of pitching experience under his belt, he had to learn to do more than rely on his arm and natural skill. He had to learn how to pitch.
Comng into his senior year, he was given the opportunity to be one Missouri's three weekend starters, and, being a senior, was given the Friday slot, that normally assigned to the staff ace.
Over the first several weeks, he struggled. His February ERA was 7.31, and he compiled a record of 0-1 in four Friday starts, averaging just four innings per game.
But Hill was finally learning to pitch. His "stuff" wasn't getting all that better, other than to be expected by the natural process of physically getting stronger with age and maturity. But he was becoming a better - and smarter - pitcher. He had an amazing capability of getting himself into trouble in an inning, deeper than any good pitcher ought, and then somehow getting himself out of it, just by outsmarting the batters. I've seen him load the bases with no outs, and escape the inning without allowing a run -- and then go on to allow only a run or two the rest of the game.
Hill's March ERA was 3.54, with a 1-1 record. In April, he came into his own, posting an ERA of 1.59, with a 1-1 record, and 23 strikeouts in 19 innings.
In May, Hill slumped again, his ERA dropping back to 7.24. He h ad not forgotten how to pitch, but he had run out of steam. You have to remember that before 2004, Hill had never pitched this many innings or been relied on this much. By early May, he was worn out. He was leaving ballgames after just two or three innings, unable to get batters out. He was asked before one game how he was feeling, and he replied: "Like I've pitched 90+ innings."
Danny Hill was through for 2004, we all assumed.
Not quite. After two or three weeks of being removed from the mound prematurely, Danny Hill made the trip with the Tigers to the Big XII Tournament in Arlington, Texas. The Missouri team was on the bubble, at best, for being selected for an at-large bid to the NCAA post-season Regionals. Winning the Big XII Tournament would bring an automatic bid. Doing very well in the tournament would make the "bubble" more solid.
For the second game of the Tournament, with the Tigers already 1-0, MU Coach Tim Jamieson gave the ball to Danny Hill. Nobody knew what would happen. Most of us assumed he would make it a few short innigns and then the bullpen would have to pitch the balance of the game, based on Hill's recent performance.
That game turned into a rain delayed marathon. Play was suspended twice (the first time after just and inning and a half) and the tarp brought onto the field, for a total of 3:38 in delays. The game that started at 6:30 finally ended nearly six hours later.
Danny Hill, the worn-out "ragarm" pitcher, pitched a complete game - a game which actually ended "early" after seven innings due to the 10-rule rule. He struck out 9 ( four in a row in the 3rd and 4th innings after sitting in the dugout for over three hours) and gave up just one earned run on the way to a 12-1 victory.
Hill is a friendly and outgoing young man, full of enthusiasm. And he becomes a bulldog on the mound, willing to do whatever it takes to get outs.
He is also, due to his personality and his short history as a pitcher, quite teachable. He seems willing to try any suggestion to become a better pitcher, which ought to serve him well in the minor leagues.
If Danny Hill starts off slowly in the minor leagues, remember that he has only been pitching for three years. That means it may take him a while to build up his endurance and arm strenght after the long college season. It also means, though, that even when he seems to be struggling, he'll be learning from the experience, becoming a better pitcher.
This one's got heart. Lots of it. Which is really all we can ask out of a young ballplayer.
Thanks so much, Tim. Remember, Mizzou sent us Jayce Tingler, another young Jays farmhand full of heart who most of us just love. Tim's got a great site at SimmonsField.com which I can't recommend highly enough.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20040610095006999