News
Hill keeps up with second-base pack
Jays slugger has shot to be All-Star at very deep position
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
05/19/09 8:03 PM ET
BOSTON -- Playing on baseball's big stage was still just a dream when Aaron Hill and Dustin Pedroia both suited up for Team USA as a couple of college kids. Seven years later, they have cemented themselves as two of the top second basemen in the game -- Hill with the Blue Jays and Pedroia with the Red Sox.Pedroia -- a standout infielder for Arizona State when he played summer ball with Hill in 2002 -- has quickly made a name for himself, claiming the American League Rookie of the Year Award and a World Series title with Boston in 2007, and then AL Most Valuable Player honors last season.
Hill has been enjoying a breakout season this year, and Pedroia is hardly surprised.
"He was just one of those guys that you knew he was going to be a star," Pedroia said on Tuesday. "I think everyone in baseball is looking and seeing what he's doing this year, and hopefully he keeps it going, because it's awesome."
Entering Toronto's current three-game series against Boston, all Hill had done is post a .345 batting average with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs through 41 games for the Jays. The second baseman led the Majors with 61 hits, and his home run total was good enough for third in the AL. Among second baseman, Hill also led in average, RBIs and was tied for first in homers.
That's not easy to do, considering the wealth of Major League talent at the position these days.
"I'm just trying to keep up with the pack," Hill said with a laugh.
Hill, who played for Louisiana State before being selected by the Jays in the first round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, and Pedroia are only two within a strong class of second basemen.
Philadelphia has slugger Chase Utley. There is Orlando Hudson with the Dodgers. The Yankees have Robinson Cano, the Orioles boast Brian Roberts and the Rangers own a budding star in Ian Kinsler, who played with Pedroia at ASU.
"Keep going. There's a lot more of them, too," Hill said.
There is plenty of All-Star experience among that group, but Hill has yet to be named to the roster of a Midsummer Classic in his career. Inevitably, a few deserving second basemen will miss out on the All-Star Game this July due to the many worthy candidates.
"It's going to be a tough call," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "Who's going to make that All-Star team? I hope it's going to be my guy right here. If he keeps swinging like he's swinging, he certainly has a chance."
Not only that, Hill has a chance at some Blue Jays records.
In 2007, Hill tied Roberto Alomar's 1993 franchise mark of 17 homers in a season by a second baseman. That same year, Hill also clubbed 46 doubles, breaking the previous record of 43 (Alomar, '91) in a season by a Jays second baseman. Only 41 games into this season, Hill is well on his way to setting new club standards for a second baseman in home runs and RBIs (Alomar had 93 in 1993).
Hill might have made a run at those records last season had it not been for an unfortunate injury.
Last May 29, Hill was struck on the side of the head during an on-field collision with former Jays shortstop David Eckstein. Hill suffered a serious concussion and dealt with dizzy spells and headaches for months. The second baseman missed the rest of the season, leaving some doubt about his ability to rebound this year.
Hill has done plenty to show that he's fully recovered.
That has been a big part of Toronto featuring one of the game's most potent offenses this year, helping push the resurgent club into first place in the AL East. Even though Hill is a rival, Pedroia has enjoyed seeing him come back with a strong performance out of the gates.
"I think everyone's excited about the way he's played this year after what he went through," Pedroia said. "You always root for guys who play the game the right way -- he's one of those guys. He's fun to watch. He plays the game hard and he's also a great guy, too. I've had the chance to get to know him and he's just an awesome guy.
"A couple years ago, he had a great year, and then last year, he gets hurt. You never want to see anybody get hurt, especially like that. I talked to him at the end of the year there, and he said everything he did, he'd get so tired. The way he loves baseball, you never want to see that. That's why everyone, we're so happy for him.
"I hope he gets 270 hits this year, but none against the Red Sox."
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
