Shawn Hillegas
Encyclopedia
Shawn Patrick Hillegas (born August 21, 1964 in Dos Palos, California
) is a former right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers
, Chicago White Sox
, Cleveland Indians
, New York Yankees
and Oakland Athletics
.
in Sidman, Pennsylvania
and then Middle Georgia College
.
in the 26th round (657th overall) of the 1983 draft
. He opted not to sign that year, but in 1984 he did sign after being drafted 4th overall in the first round by the Los Angeles Dodgers
.
He did well in the minors for the most part, having only one real bad stretch: in 1986 with the Albuquerque Dukes
, he had a 6.17 ERA in 9 games. His best minor league season statistically was 1984 with the Vero Beach Dodgers, where he had a 1.83 ERA in 13 games.
On August 9, 1987, Hillegas made his major league debut. He lived up to his first round status in his debut-he pitched 8 innings with 6 strikeouts and 2 earned runs for the win. Perhaps his best Major League season was his rookie year-he went 4-3 with a 3.57 ERA in 58 innings pitched.
Overall in his career, he went 24-38, with a 4.61 ERA. He never quite lived up to his 1st round status as a whole. As a batter, he went 2-29-that's a .069 batting average. He committed 9 errors in the field, for a .900 fielding percentage. He balked only once in his career.
He played his final game on July 17, 1993.
Dos Palos, California
Dos Palos is a city in Merced County, California, United States. Dos Palos is located south-southwest of Merced, at an elevation of 118 feet . The population was 4,950 at the 2010 census, up from 4,581 at the 2000 census...
) is a former right-handed 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 Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
Biography
Hillegas was 6'3", 190 pounds (although one source says he was 6'2", 208 pounds) and he threw and batted right-handed. He attended Forest Hills High SchoolForest Hills High School (PA)
Forest Hills High School, located in Sidman, Pennsylvania, is a public high school serving 626 students in grades 10-12. It is a school of the Forest Hills School District....
in Sidman, Pennsylvania
Sidman, Pennsylvania
Sidman is an unincorporated community in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its ZIP code is 15955 and it is one half of the St. Michael-Sidman, Pennsylvania census-designated place in Cambria County. The other half is St. Michael, Pennsylvania....
and then Middle Georgia College
Middle Georgia College
Middle Georgia College is a publicly supported, residential,charter unit of the University System of Georgia, in the city Cochran in the U.S. state of Georgia. Founded in 1884, the school is the oldest two-year college in the United States. It is currently being transformed into a 4 year college...
.
Career
Hillegas was drafted by the California AngelsLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in the 26th round (657th overall) of the 1983 draft
1983 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1983 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Other notable players :*Kevin Ward, 6th round...
. He opted not to sign that year, but in 1984 he did sign after being drafted 4th overall in the first round by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
.
He did well in the minors for the most part, having only one real bad stretch: in 1986 with the Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
, he had a 6.17 ERA in 9 games. His best minor league season statistically was 1984 with the Vero Beach Dodgers, where he had a 1.83 ERA in 13 games.
On August 9, 1987, Hillegas made his major league debut. He lived up to his first round status in his debut-he pitched 8 innings with 6 strikeouts and 2 earned runs for the win. Perhaps his best Major League season was his rookie year-he went 4-3 with a 3.57 ERA in 58 innings pitched.
Overall in his career, he went 24-38, with a 4.61 ERA. He never quite lived up to his 1st round status as a whole. As a batter, he went 2-29-that's a .069 batting average. He committed 9 errors in the field, for a .900 fielding percentage. He balked only once in his career.
He played his final game on July 17, 1993.
Major transactions
- On August 30, 1988, Hillegas was traded to the White Sox from the Dodgers for Ricky HortonRicky HortonRicky Ness Horton is an American former Major League Baseball player who pitched from 1984-1990. He was known as Ricky during his playing career, but now goes by Rick. He currently provides color commentary for television broadcasts of the St...
. - On December 4, 1990, Hillegas was traded with Eric KingEric King (baseball)Eric Steven King was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He may be best known for giving up Ken Griffey, Jr's first career Major League home run....
from the White Sox to the Indians for Cory SnyderCory SnyderJames Cory Snyder is a former Major League Baseball player for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1986 to 1994. Snyder's best season came in 1987 with the Indians when he hit 33 home runs and had 82 runs batted in...
and minor leaguer Lindsay Foster.
Other information
- He wore these numbers in his career:
- 1987-'90, 1992-'93: 57
- 1988: 45
- 1991: 38
- 1992: 36
- Hillegas currently lives in Washington where he owns his own tiling company and is very accomplished.