Nick Hill (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Hill is a professional baseball
pitcher
in the Seattle Mariners
organization.
in the United States Army
. As an Army reserve
there was still a possibility that Hill could have been sent overseas to Iraq
or Afghanistan
while he was playing in the Mariners farm system. He was involved in an Army program that allowed athletes to apply for an early discharge after two years of active duty after they signed their contracts. His active duty requirement expired in the 2009 season.
in June 2003 where he was a three-time letterwinner and was named region player of the year and all-state selection as a senior. Hill established Tennessee state record by pitting 56 consecutive shutout
innings
.
where he was named Patriot League
Pitcher of the Year three times and earned First-Team All-Patriot League accolades four times. Hill was named to second team All-America squads by the American Baseball Coaches' Association and Collegiate Baseball in 2005. He was named to the Brooks Wallace Award
Watch List in 2006 and 2007. Hill was also on the '07 Roger Clemens Award
Watch List and the '06 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-America First Team. He was selected to '06 Louisville Slugger
Preseason All-American Second Team and the United States national baseball team
in the same year, becoming the first Army player since Steve Reich
to play for Team USA. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox
in the 47th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft
, but could not sign due to military obligations. During his time in college he played on the United States national baseball team
.
; signed by Mariners scout Robert Mummau. In his professional debut with the Short-Season Everett AquaSox
he went 1–3 with a 0.51 ERA with two saves in 18 games in 2007.
He began the 2008 season with the Class-A High Desert Mavericks
where he went 2–1 with one save and a 4.30 ERA in 25 relief appearances and 0–6 with a 4.65 ERA in 10 starts. He tossed a season-high 6 innings on June 2, while striking out a season-high seven batters in five innings on May 7. Hill appeared in nine games with the Double-A West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx
from June 23 to July 12.
In 2009 Hill spent the entire season with the Diamond Jaxx going 5–6 with a 3.10 ERA, 100 strikeouts, 95 innings pitched in 36 games, nine starts. He and other Mariners' prospects were sent to the Arizona Fall League at the end of the season.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
organization.
Army career
Hill was a Second LieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. As an Army reserve
Military reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
there was still a possibility that Hill could have been sent overseas to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
or Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
while he was playing in the Mariners farm system. He was involved in an Army program that allowed athletes to apply for an early discharge after two years of active duty after they signed their contracts. His active duty requirement expired in the 2009 season.
High school
Hill graduated from Sullivan East High SchoolSullivan East High School
Sullivan East High School is a 9th through 12th grade high school located in Bluff City, Tennessee. The School opened its doors to students in 1969. Prior to the completion of Sullivan East High School students in the area attended Bluff City High School, Mary Hughes High School and Holston Valley...
in June 2003 where he was a three-time letterwinner and was named region player of the year and all-state selection as a senior. Hill established Tennessee state record by pitting 56 consecutive shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
.
College
In May 2007 Hill graduated from the United States Military AcademyUnited States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
where he was named Patriot League
Patriot League
The Patriot League is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I) for a number of sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision...
Pitcher of the Year three times and earned First-Team All-Patriot League accolades four times. Hill was named to second team All-America squads by the American Baseball Coaches' Association and Collegiate Baseball in 2005. He was named to the Brooks Wallace Award
Brooks Wallace Award
The Brooks Wallace Award is an award given by the College Baseball Foundation to the best college baseball shortstop of the year. The award has been given annually since 2004. Until 2008 the award was presented to the nation's most outstanding player; however in 2009 the recipient list was changed...
Watch List in 2006 and 2007. Hill was also on the '07 Roger Clemens Award
Roger Clemens Award
The Roger Clemens Award was an award that honored the top NCAA Division I college baseball pitcher of the year. The award was created prior to the 2004 season and succeeded the Rotary Smith Award....
Watch List and the '06 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-America First Team. He was selected to '06 Louisville Slugger
Hillerich & Bradsby
Hillerich & Bradsby Company is a company located in Louisville, Kentucky that produces the famous Louisville Slugger baseball bat. The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory in downtown Louisville features a retrospective of the product and its use throughout baseball history...
Preseason All-American Second Team and the United States national baseball team
United States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
in the same year, becoming the first Army player since Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
to play for Team USA. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in the 47th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft
2006 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 6 and 7. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.-First Round Selections:...
, but could not sign due to military obligations. During his time in college he played on the United States national baseball team
United States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
.
Seattle Mariners
Hill was the Seattle Mariners' seventh round selection in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft2007 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 7 and June 8, 2007...
; signed by Mariners scout Robert Mummau. In his professional debut with the Short-Season Everett AquaSox
Everett AquaSox
The Everett AquaSox are a minor league baseball team in Everett, Washington, USA. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League, of which they are the current defending champions...
he went 1–3 with a 0.51 ERA with two saves in 18 games in 2007.
He began the 2008 season with the Class-A High Desert Mavericks
High Desert Mavericks
The High Desert Mavericks are a minor league baseball team in Adelanto, California, USA. Their Major League parent club is the Seattle Mariners. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and had been a farm team of the Kansas City Royals since 2005 before the switch...
where he went 2–1 with one save and a 4.30 ERA in 25 relief appearances and 0–6 with a 4.65 ERA in 10 starts. He tossed a season-high 6 innings on June 2, while striking out a season-high seven batters in five innings on May 7. Hill appeared in nine games with the Double-A West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
The Jackson Generals are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The team is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and plays their home games at Pringles Park; opened in 1998, the park currently holds 6,000 fans.From their inaugural season...
from June 23 to July 12.
In 2009 Hill spent the entire season with the Diamond Jaxx going 5–6 with a 3.10 ERA, 100 strikeouts, 95 innings pitched in 36 games, nine starts. He and other Mariners' prospects were sent to the Arizona Fall League at the end of the season.
External links
- Players stats and bio at milb.com and Baseball-Reference.