Samuel Beauman Hilliard Bio
Samuel Beauman Hilliard is an American professional baseball outfielder currently playing for the KT Wiz of the KBO League. Born on February 21, 1994, Hilliard has built a professional career spanning multiple organizations in Major League Baseball and the KBO League. He made his MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies in 2019 and has since established himself as a power-hitting outfielder known for his athleticism and defensive versatility. Hilliard’s journey through professional baseball includes notable stops with the Rockies and Atlanta Braves before his move to South Korea in late 2025.
Early Life and Background
Samuel Beauman Hilliard grew up in Mansfield, Texas, as the youngest of three sons. His mother, Tamara Hext, achieved prominence as Miss Texas in 1984 and finished as fourth-runner-up in the Miss America pageant that same year. His father, Jim Hilliard, was a football player for the Texas Longhorns and later became an orthopedic surgeon, practicing for 35 years before his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in March 2018.
Hilliard attended Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Texas, where he competed in both baseball and basketball. A stomach illness during his high school years limited his strength development. Despite these challenges, he pursued his passion for baseball and began his collegiate career at Navarro College, where he played sparingly before transferring to Crowder College.
Path to Professional Baseball
At Crowder College, Hilliard developed into a more complete player, batting .290 while also demonstrating pitching ability with a 5-2 record and a 2.14 earned run average. His dual-threat capability caught attention from MLB scouts, and he was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 31st round of the 2014 MLB Draft. Hilliard chose not to sign and instead transferred to Wichita State University, where he played one season with the Shockers.
At Wichita State, Hilliard continued to improve his offensive production, batting .335 with 8 home runs while also appearing as a reliever on the mound with a 1-4 record. His strong collegiate performance led to him being drafted again in 2015, this time by the Colorado Rockies in the 15th round of the MLB Draft.
Samuel Beauman Hilliard Career
Minor Leagues and Development (2015–2018)
Hilliard began his professional career with the Grand Junction Rockies in 2015 after signing with Colorado. He steadily climbed the minor league ladder, playing for the Asheville Tourists in 2016, the Lancaster JetHawks in 2017, and the Hartford Yard Goats in 2018. Throughout this developmental period, Hilliard consistently demonstrated his potential as a power hitter and defensive asset in the outfield.
His performance earned him recognition as a midseason All-Star in each of his first three professional seasons from 2016 to 2018. Following the 2018 season, Hilliard further showcased his abilities in the Arizona Fall League, a prestigious winter league featuring top minor league prospects. His strong showing led the Rockies to add him to their 40-man roster that November, protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft.
Colorado Rockies Breakthrough (2019–2022)
Hilliard began the 2019 season with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, where he continued to develop his offensive game. On August 27, 2019, the Rockies promoted him to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut that same night against the Boston Red Sox and made an immediate impact by recording his first major league hit, a two-run home run off Josh Smith. Hilliard finished his rookie season batting .273 with 7 home runs in just 27 games, displaying the power potential that had scouts excited about his future.
The pandemic-shortened 2020 season presented challenges for Hilliard, as he struggled with a .210/.272/.438 slash line and a concerning 36.8% strikeout rate. The Rockies optioned him to their alternate training site in September after acquiring Kevin Pillar. He spent 2021 splitting time between Colorado and Albuquerque, appearing in 81 games for the Rockies while batting .215/.294/.463.
Hilliard made his third consecutive opening day roster with the Rockies in 2022, but his performance declined significantly as he hit only .184 in 70 games. This struggle led to a roster change following the season.
Atlanta Braves (2023)
On November 6, 2022, the Atlanta Braves acquired Hilliard from the Rockies in exchange for pitcher Dylan Spain. The trade represented a fresh start for Hilliard with a franchise known for its winning culture. However, his time with Atlanta was disrupted by injuries. 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, Hilliard re-injured his right heel, forcing him onto the 60-day injured list on September 1. He appeared in only 40 games for the Braves that season, batting .236 with 6 home runs. The injury-plagued campaign limited his ability to establish a consistent role with Atlanta.
Return to Colorado (2024–2025)
Following the 2023 season, Hilliard was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on November 1, 2023, but did not remain with the organization long. The Rockies reacquired him on a waiver claim on February 28, 2024. He was designated for assignment shortly after on March 21 and ultimately sent outright to Triple-A Albuquerque on March 23.
Hilliard thrived in Triple-A during 2024, batting .288/.374/.542 with 14 home runs, 44 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 65 games. He set the Isotopes career record for home runs on May 1, reaching 67 total home runs with Albuquerque. His strong performance earned a recall to the majors on June 21. In 58 games with Colorado, he slashed .239/.305/.507 with 10 home runs, 27 RBI, and 5 stolen bases.
The 2025 season saw Hilliard continue his pattern of shuttling between Triple-A and the majors. He was designated for assignment on March 27, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to Albuquerque. After hitting .288/.372/.538 with 6 home runs in 40 games for the Isotopes, he earned another call-up on May 30. He appeared in 20 games for Colorado, batting .196/.328/.412 with 2 home runs. He was designated for assignment again on July 1 and sent outright to Triple-A on July 4. Hilliard elected free agency on October 3, 2025.
KT Wiz (2026–Present)
On December 3, 2025, Hilliard signed with the KT Wiz of the KBO League, marking a new chapter in his professional career in South Korea. The move represented an opportunity to revitalize his career in a new league while continuing to play at a high professional level.
Samuel Beauman Hilliard Career Statistics
Across his MLB career with the Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves from 2019 through 2025, Hilliard compiled career statistics that reflect his power-hitting ability and defensive versatility in the outfield.
MLB Career Highlights
Hilliard has appeared in portions of six MLB seasons, accumulating a career batting average of .218 with 44 home runs and 107 runs batted in. His most productive stretch came during his return to Colorado in 2024, when he combined for strong numbers across both Triple-A and MLB levels. His career highlight remains his dramatic debut with the Rockies in August 2019, when he homered in his first major league at-bat against the Boston Red Sox.
Career Milestones and Notable Achievements
Throughout his professional career, Hilliard has demonstrated the ability to hit for power and average at the minor league level. He holds the Albuquerque Isotopes career home run record with 67 home runs, demonstrating his consistent ability to drive the ball out of the park at the Triple-A level. His three consecutive midseason All-Star selections in the minor leagues from 2016 to 2018 highlighted his steady development as a professional player.
| Level | Games | Batting Average | Home Runs | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB Career | 295 | .218 | 44 | 107 |
Samuel Beauman Hilliard Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Samuel Beauman Hilliard comes from an accomplished family with strong athletic and public service backgrounds. His father, Jim Hilliard, was a football player for the Texas Longhorns and later became a respected orthopedic surgeon with a 35-year medical career. Following his diagnosis with ALS in March 2018, Jim Hilliard became part of Hilliard’s inspiration for supporting ALS awareness and research initiatives.
Personal Life
Hilliard has been actively involved in supporting ALS awareness since his father’s diagnosis. He has worked with the ALS Therapy Development Institute and contributed to the establishment of Lou Gehrig Day in Major League Baseball. These efforts demonstrate his commitment to honoring his father’s legacy while helping other families affected by the disease. Hilliard is the youngest of three sons, and his mother’s achievements as Miss Texas 1984 have been a source of pride for the family throughout his career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented another year of transition and resilience for Hilliard. After beginning the year in Triple-A Albuquerque following his waiver claim by the Rockies, he continued to produce at a high level in the minor leagues, batting .288 with an on-base percentage of .372 and a slugging percentage of .538. His 6 home runs and 24 RBI in 40 games demonstrated his continued power potential at the Triple-A level.
Hilliard earned a mid-season recall to Colorado in late May and appeared in 20 games with the Rockies. While his sample size was limited, his .196 batting average indicated he was still working to find consistency at the major league level. His ability to draw walks, evidenced by his .328 on-base percentage, showed his patient approach at the plate remained a strength. Following another designation for assignment in July, Hilliard returned to Triple-A where he finished the season before electing free agency in October.
Looking ahead to his move to the KT Wiz of the KBO League, Hilliard brings a power-hitting profile and defensive versatility that should translate well to Korean baseball. At 31 years old, he enters the prime of his career with an opportunity for a fresh start in a new league. His experience across multiple organizations and levels, combined with his proven ability to hit for power in the minor leagues, suggests he has the tools to be a productive player for the Wiz as he begins this new chapter of his professional career.