Written by Greg Fertel
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06 June 2007
- Age: 22
- Height: 6'1"
- Weight: 200 lbs
- Drafted: 6th round in 2006 out of Purdue
- Acquired: Shortstop/Third Base
- Bats: Right
Scouting Report: Discussion about Alberto Gonzalez begins with defense; Eric Duncan with plate discipline; Brett Gardner with speed. Mitch Hilligoss it all about hitting ability. Scouts deemed him the best "pure hitter" in draft. What does that mean? Hilligoss is the master of the single. He'll drive a pitch to the opposite field, punch a ground ball by the 1st baseman holding a runner, bunt for a base hit when the 3rd baseman is too far back, and every once in awhile drive a ball in the gap. He has excellent bat control and plate judgment. Hilligoss has some speed, but not enough to define his game. He doesn't have much power at all, and is going to post slugging percentages somewhere around .400 for most of his career. Hilligoss was a good defender at shortstop, but the Yankees moved him over to 3rd base, where he has struggled at times. They no doubt intend Hilligoss to eventually fulfill a utility role.
History: Scouts really caught on to Hilligoss in 2005 when he hit .404/.429/.535 for Purdue in 2005. He followed it up by hitting .386/.453/.579 in his junior year, earning him the Yankee's draft pick in the 6th round in 2006. The Yankees sent him to Staten Island, where he hit a respectable .292/.357/.352. The Yankees split him evenly between 3rd and short, and rumors circulated that Hilligoss would be converted to catcher. He batted 3rd for the entire season, helping to lead the Staten Island Yankees to the New York-Penn League championship.
This Season: You all know the story. Hilligoss put together one of the better hit streaks in minor league history. His 38 games in a row were a South Atlantic League record. So far, Hillgoss has hit .322/.366/.432 with 10 stolen bases, 36 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 56 games. He has batted in the lead off spot for most of the season. Hilligoss is doing exactly what he is supposed to against the inferior pitching of the South Atlantic League. He's playing his game, hitting singles however he can, not trying to hit big home runs. He probably could drive a few more out of the park against these pitchers, but that is not his long term game plan.
Outlook and Movement: Hilligoss is blocked by Marcos Vechionacci and Reegie Corona at Tampa, so for now he'll sit in Charleston. If the Yankees wanted to move him up, they would either have to give up on Vechionacci (who has enough talent to give more time), or move Hilligoss to another position. Since Corona is settled in at short for now, Hilligoss would need to play 2nd to really find a position. If Hilligoss starts to get games at other positions, that means the Yankees are getting ready to move him up. He shouldn't need too much time in the minors to reach New York. If all goes right, he may find his way to the Major League bench mid-2009.
Ranking: It's hard to rank Hilligoss higher, although I really want to. He seems to have the ability to hit singles at will, which scouts were expecting, but he doesn't bring a lot of other things to the table. Even in college, he didn't walk a lot. His defensive home is still not determined. It's hard to see Hilligoss sticking at any position as a regular besides short or catcher, which is why the rumors about him going behind the plate were so numerous last year. As a backup, I could see Hilligoss being very valuable, sort of as a Scott Spezio type.
Next up: Lefty Angel Reyes
