Sam Hilliard Bio
Samuel Beauman Hilliard, born on February 21, 1994, is an American professional baseball outfielder currently playing for the KT Wiz of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and the Atlanta Braves, establishing himself as a power-hitting outfielder across both leagues. Standing out for his athleticism and left-handed bat, Hilliard signed with the KT Wiz in December 2025 after beginning his MLB career with the Rockies in 2019.
Early Life and Background
Samuel Beauman Hilliard was raised in Texas, where he grew up in a family with deep ties to both athletics and medicine. His mother, Tamara Hext, was crowned Miss Texas in 1984 and went on to finish as the fourth runner-up in the Miss America pageant that same year. His father, Jim Hilliard, played for the Texas Longhorns football team and built a long career as an orthopedic surgeon, practicing for 35 years.
Hilliard is the youngest of three sons. He attended Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Texas, where he lettered in both baseball and basketball before a stomach illness limited his physical development during his teenage years. Despite the setback, he continued pursuing athletics and eventually committed to a college baseball path that would take him through several institutions.
Path to Baseball
Hilliard began his college career at Navarro College, where he saw limited playing time as he adjusted to the demands of higher-level competition. Seeking more opportunity, he transferred to Crowder College, where his game took a major step forward. At Crowder, he batted .290 and posted a 5–2 record with a 2.14 earned run average as a pitcher, showing the two-way ability that made him a versatile draft prospect.
His performance at Crowder attracted the attention of Major League scouts, and he was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 31st round of the 2014 MLB Draft. Choosing not to sign, Hilliard transferred to Wichita State University, where he batted .335 with eight home runs and went 1–4 as a relief pitcher in a single standout season with the Shockers. In 2015, the Colorado Rockies selected him in the 15th round of the MLB Draft, launching his professional career.
Sam Hilliard Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Following his selection in the 2015 MLB Draft, Samuel Beauman Hilliard began his professional career in the Colorado Rockies’ minor league system. He made his professional debut with the Grand Junction Rockies and spent 2016 with the Asheville Tourists, 2017 with the Lancaster JetHawks, and 2018 with the Hartford Yard Goats. His steady production at every level earned him midseason All-Star honors in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
After the 2018 season, Hilliard played in the Arizona Fall League, a traditional finishing school for top prospects. That November, the Rockies added him to their 40-man roster, signaling that his major league debut was drawing near. He began 2019 with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes before earning his first call-up to the big leagues.
Colorado Rockies (2019–2022)
Hilliard made his Major League debut on August 27, 2019, against the Boston Red Sox. That same night, he recorded his first major league hit, a two-run home run off relief pitcher Josh Smith, an unforgettable start to his big-league career. In 27 games for the Rockies that season, he batted .273 with seven home runs, flashing the raw power that had defined his minor league profile.
The pandemic-shortened 2020 season was more difficult, as Hilliard posted a .210/.272/.438 slash line with a high 36.8 percent strikeout rate. He was optioned to the Rockies’ alternate training site in September after the team acquired veteran outfielder Kevin Pillar. In 2021, he split the year between Colorado and Albuquerque, hitting .215/.294/.463 with 18 home runs in 81 games for the Rockies. He made the opening day roster for a third straight season in 2022 but struggled at the plate, batting .184 across 70 games before eventually being removed from the major league roster.
Atlanta Braves (2023)
On November 6, 2022, the Colorado Rockies traded Samuel Beauman Hilliard to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor leaguer Dylan Spain, giving him a fresh start with a contending organization. He earned a role on the Braves’ roster out of spring training and played in 40 games for Atlanta during the 2023 season, batting .236 with six home runs and contributing occasional outfield depth during the regular season.
His time in Atlanta was interrupted by injury, however. On July 19, 2023, he was placed on the injured list with a right heel contusion. While on a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, he re-aggravated the same heel and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on September 1, ending his season. After the year, the Braves did not retain him, and he became a free agent.
Colorado Rockies (Second Stint, 2024–2025)
On November 1, 2023, Hilliard was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles, but his stay in that organization was brief. The Colorado Rockies reclaimed him on a waiver claim on February 28, 2024, only to designate him for assignment on March 21 following the acquisition of Greg Jones. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, where he rediscovered his power stroke.
In 65 games for Albuquerque in 2024, Hilliard batted .288/.374/.542 with 14 home runs, 44 runs batted in, and 13 stolen bases. On May 1, he set the Isotopes’ career record for home runs, hitting his 67th home run with the club. The Rockies selected his contract on June 21, and he played 58 games for Colorado, slashing .239/.305/.507 with 10 home runs, 27 runs batted in, and five stolen bases. In 2025, he shuttled between Albuquerque and the Rockies, batting .196/.328/.412 with two home runs in 20 big-league games before electing free agency on October 3.
KT Wiz (2025–Present)
On December 3, 2025, Samuel Beauman Hilliard signed with the KT Wiz of the KBO League, embarking on the first international chapter of his professional baseball career. The move to South Korea offered him an opportunity to play every day and showcase his power in a league known for offensive production. He joined the KT Wiz roster wearing jersey number 34 and was expected to serve as a middle-of-the-order outfielder.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Samuel Beauman Hilliard’s career came on August 27, 2019, when he homered in his first Major League at-bat against the Boston Red Sox. On May 1, 2024, he set the Albuquerque Isotopes’ all-time home run record with his 67th long ball for the club, a fitting tribute to a stretch in which he also batted .288 with 14 home runs in 65 games. His career MLB totals include a .218 batting average with 44 home runs and 107 runs batted in through the 2025 season.
Sam Hilliard Career Wins
Wins are not a tracked statistic for position players in baseball, so Samuel Beauman Hilliard’s career résumé is measured in hits, home runs, and run production rather than victories. Across his Major League Baseball stints with the Colorado Rockies and the Atlanta Braves, he has hit 44 home runs and driven in 107 runs through the 2025 season, establishing himself as a power-hitting reserve outfielder. In the KBO League, he continues to build on those numbers as a key member of the KT Wiz.
MLB Highlights
Samuel Beauman Hilliard’s most memorable MLB moment arrived on August 27, 2019, when he launched a two-run home run off Josh Smith in his Major League debut against the Boston Red Sox. He followed that with seven home runs in 27 games as a rookie, foreshadowing his power potential. In 2024, he set the Albuquerque Isotopes’ career home run record, capping a season in which he slugged 14 home runs at the Triple-A level.
Sam Hilliard Family
Family Background and Lineage
Samuel Beauman Hilliard comes from a family with a strong tradition of athletic and professional achievement. His mother, Tamara Hext, was Miss Texas in 1984 and finished as the fourth runner-up in the Miss America pageant the same year. His father, Jim Hilliard, played football at the University of Texas and spent 35 years practicing as an orthopedic surgeon.
Hilliard is the youngest of three sons. In March 2018, his father was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a diagnosis that has shaped Hilliard’s off-field priorities. He has since supported the ALS Therapy Development Institute and backed the creation of Lou Gehrig Day in Major League Baseball to raise awareness and research funding for the disease.
Personal Life
Publicly available information about Samuel Beauman Hilliard’s personal relationships is limited. He is known to be close with his parents and two older brothers, and he has channeled much of his public charitable energy toward ALS research and awareness following his father’s diagnosis. Beyond his family connections and his commitment to disease awareness, he keeps his private life largely out of the public eye while continuing his professional baseball career in South Korea.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was one of transition for Samuel Beauman Hilliard, who shuttled between the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes and the parent Colorado Rockies. He opened the year in the minor leagues after being designated for assignment on March 27, clearing waivers and being sent outright to Triple-A on March 31. In 40 appearances for the Isotopes, he batted .288/.372/.538 with six home runs, 24 runs batted in, and five stolen bases, demonstrating the same power surge that had marked his prior Triple-A campaigns.
On May 30, the Rockies added him back to the active roster, where he played 20 games and batted .196/.328/.412 with two home runs, three runs batted in, and two stolen bases. He was designated for assignment again on July 1, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to Albuquerque on July 4. Hilliard elected free agency on October 3, closing his third separate stint with the Rockies and opening the door to his next opportunity.
That opportunity arrived quickly when the KT Wiz of the KBO League signed him on December 3, 2025, giving Hilliard a chance to play a featured role overseas. Heading into 2026, he is expected to serve as a power-hitting outfielder in the middle of the KT Wiz lineup, bringing his left-handed pop and outfield versatility to a Korean league that values offensive production.