Derek Jerome Hill Bio
Derek Jerome Hill is an American professional baseball outfielder who has played for multiple Major League Baseball organizations since making his debut in 2020. Hill was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft and has built a reputation as an elite baserunner throughout his professional career. He has appeared in parts of seven MLB seasons with six different teams, accumulating a career batting average of .232 with 20 home runs and 67 runs batted in.
Early Life and Background
Derek Jerome Hill was born on December 30, 1995, in Des Moines, Iowa. He grew up in Des Moines with his mother and spent his summers with his father in Northern California, where he played baseball for select travel teams. In 2011, Hill moved to Sacramento, California, and attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, California.
Hill emerged as a highly decorated high school player at Elk Grove High School. During his senior season, he batted an even .500 (47-for-94), with 11 doubles, seven triples, 30 runs batted in, and 29 stolen bases. His exceptional performance attracted attention from Major League Baseball scouts and college programs alike.
Path to Professional Baseball
Hill received a baseball scholarship to play at the University of Oregon and was committed to the Ducks program before beginning his professional career. However, his outstanding high school performance and tools made him a highly sought prospect in the 2014 MLB Draft.
The Detroit Tigers selected Hill in the first round, with the 23rd overall pick, in the 2014 MLB Draft. He signed with the Tigers shortly after being drafted, receiving a $2 million signing bonus. He began his professional career that same year in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League, launching his journey toward Major League Baseball.
Derek Jerome Hill Career
Detroit Tigers (2020-2022)
Hill spent several years developing in the Tigers minor league system before earning his first Major League call-up. He played for various Minor League affiliates, including the West Michigan Whitecaps, where he showed improvement each season. In 2016, he posted a .266 batting average with 31 runs batted in and 35 stolen bases, demonstrating his developing tools as an outfielder and base-stealer.
The Tigers added Hill to their 40-man roster following the 2019 season to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. On September 2, 2020, Hill was recalled from the alternate training site following a season-ending injury to JaCoby Jones. He made his MLB debut on September 4, 2020, as a defensive replacement. In 15 games during his debut season, Hill batted .091 with no home runs or runs batted in.
Hill began the 2021 season at the Tigers alternate training site before being assigned to Triple-A Toledo in May. He was recalled to the Major League club in early June following an injury to Victor Reyes. On August 8, 2021, Hill hit his first Major League home run, a three-run drive to left-center field off Zach Plesac of the Cleveland Indians. He finished the 2021 season with a .259 batting average, three home runs, 14 runs batted in, and six stolen bases in 49 games. His sprint speed of 30.5 feet per second ranked third fastest among all Major League players that season.
Injuries affected Hill during the 2022 season. The Tigers announced he would start the year on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. On August 1, 2022, the Tigers designated Hill for assignment. He was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners on August 5, 2022, and assigned to Triple-A Tacoma. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Tacoma later that October before electing free agency in November.
Washington Nationals (2023)
On November 14, 2022, Hill signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals organization. He was assigned to Triple-A Rochester to begin the 2023 season, where he thrived in a half-season with the Red Wings. In 48 games with Rochester, Hill hit .324 with a .914 OPS, eight home runs, 31 runs batted in, and 10 stolen bases.
On June 21, 2023, the Nationals selected Hill’s contract and promoted him to the Major League roster following an injury to Victor Robles. However, his time with Washington was limited to just 13 games, where he batted .170 with one run batted in and one stolen base. The Nationals designated Hill for assignment on July 5, 2023. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Rochester on July 7. He elected free agency following the season on October 2.
Texas Rangers (2024)
On December 27, 2023, Hill signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. He reported to Triple-A Round Rock, where he put together an impressive campaign. In 34 games with the Express, Hill batted .333 with a .659 slugging percentage, eight home runs, 16 runs batted in, and six stolen bases.
On May 21, 2024, the Rangers selected Hill’s contract and promoted him to the active roster. He appeared in 16 total games for Texas, batting .256 with three home runs, five runs batted in, and two stolen bases. The Rangers designated Hill for assignment on June 7, and he cleared waivers before being sent outright to Round Rock on June 12. The Rangers added him back to their Major League roster on June 26, but he was designated for assignment a second time on July 20.
San Francisco Giants (2024)
On July 23, 2024, Hill was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants. In five games with the Giants, Hill went 3-for-12 (.250) with two runs batted in. The Giants designated him for assignment on August 2.
Miami Marlins (2024-2025)
On August 3, 2024, Hill was claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins. He made 32 appearances for the Marlins down the stretch, batting .234 with four home runs, 18 runs batted in, and four stolen bases.
Hill returned to the Marlins for the 2025 season. He made 53 appearances with Miami, slashing .213/.275/.331 with three home runs, 10 runs batted in, and seven stolen bases. The Marlins designated Hill for assignment on September 22, 2025.
Chicago White Sox (2025-2026)
On September 24, 2025, Hill was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox. He made four appearances down the stretch for Chicago, going 2-for-7 (.286) with one run batted in to close the 2025 season.
Hill made 50 appearances for the White Sox in 2026, slashing .213/.284/.375 with four home runs, eight runs batted in, and seven stolen bases.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hill has established himself as one of the fastest players in professional baseball. His elite sprint speed of 30.5 feet per second in 2021 ranked third among all Major League players, demonstrating his exceptional baserunning ability and range in the outfield. He has shown the ability to steal bases and take extra bases on hits, making him a dynamic threat on the basepaths throughout his career.
Derek Jerome Hill Career Wins
Through June 25, 2026, Hill has appeared in parts of seven Major League seasons across six different organizations. He has accumulated a career batting average of .232 with 20 home runs and 67 runs batted in across his time in the Majors.
Detroit Tigers Highlights
Hill’s most productive MLB season came with the Detroit Tigers in 2021. In 49 games, he batted .259 with three home runs, 14 runs batted in, and six stolen bases. He recorded his first Major League home run on August 8, 2021, a three-run shot against the Cleveland Indians. His elite sprint speed of 30.5 feet per second that season showcased his dynamic tools as a baserunner and outfielder.
Minor League Success
Hill has consistently performed well at the Minor League level throughout his career. His strongest Minor League season came with Triple-A Round Rock in 2024, where he batted .333 with eight home runs and 16 runs batted in over 34 games. He also hit .324 with eight home runs and 31 runs batted in 48 games with Triple-A Rochester in 2023.
Derek Jerome Hill Family
Family Background
Hill comes from a baseball family. His father, Orsino Hill, works as a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. This family connection to professional baseball has provided Hill with exposure to the game from an early age and throughout his development as a player.
Personal Life
Hill grew up split between Des Moines, Iowa, and Northern California, spending summers with his father in Northern California where he played baseball for select teams. He attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, California, before beginning his professional baseball career. Hill maintains an active presence on social media under the handle @derekhill54 on Instagram.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Hill’s most sustained opportunity with a single organization since his time with the Detroit Tigers. With the Miami Marlins, Hill made 53 appearances, posting a .213 batting average with a .275 on-base percentage and a .331 slugging percentage. He hit three home runs, drove in 10 runs, and stole seven bases, providing the Marlins with a speed threat off their bench and in the outfield.
Hill’s versatility allowed him to log playing time across all three outfield positions. His ability to steal bases and his range in the field gave the Marlins flexibility in their defensive alignments. However, his offensive production remained inconsistent throughout the season, as he struggled to maintain a sustained rhythm at the plate.
The Marlins designated Hill for assignment on September 22, 2025, before he was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox the following day. Hill appeared in four games with the White Sox to close the season, going 2-for-7 with one run batted in. Now 29 years old, Hill continues to seek an opportunity that will provide him with consistent playing time to showcase his elite speed and defensive abilities. His career path through six organizations in seven seasons reflects the challenges of maintaining a roster spot as a player whose primary value lies in his speed and defense rather than offensive production.