Aaron Hill News & Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

March 4

Arizona Republic

"Diamondbacks second baseman Aaron Hill bounded out of the batting cage Saturday and seamlessly picked up a conversation with teammate Stephen Drew right where it had left off. A couple days earlier, it was Hill and Willie Bloomquist, the two alternating wise cracks with turns in the cage. Hill is coming off a six-week stint with the Diamondbacks last season, but judging by his comfort level in spring training, it's as if he's been with the team for years. "It didn't take long to feel comfortable with these guys," Hill said. "They opened the door right away and made it feel like home." And now it is. After signing a two-year, $11 million deal as a free agent early in the off-season, Hill"

Arizona Diamondbacks complete slew of transactions

November 1

Arizona Republic

"The Diamondbacks made several transactions Monday, according to General Manager Kevin Towers. Arizona exercised the mutual options on catcher Henry Blanco and infielder Willie Bloomquist, and declined the options on left-handed pitcher Zach Duke and infielder Aaron Hill."

Bloomquist joins Duke, Hill as free agents

October 31

MLB.com

"The D-backs exercised their side of mutual 2012 contract options on infielder/outfielder Willie Bloomquist and catcher Henry Blanco on Monday, while declining club options on second baseman Aaron Hill and pitcher Zach Duke. Bloomquist declined his end of the $1.1 million option and therefore became a free agent along with Hill and Duke. "I am declining it with the hopes of renegotiating something longer than just next year," Bloomquist said. "I hope we can work something out as we would love to stay here.""

Change of scenery has Arizona Diamondbacks' Aaron Hill in first postseason

September 30

Arizona Republic

"It's not surprising Aaron Hill was one of the first players in the Diamondbacks clubhouse Thursday morning. The second baseman had never climbed on a bus that was taking a team to a Major League Baseball postseason game before. The team boarded a flight in the afternoon and headed for Milwaukee, where they begin their National League Division Series on Saturday. Hill was enjoying every aspect of playoff preparation. What's not to enjoy? The room was loose. Joe Saunders tweaked Zach Duke for his mustache. "You look very bikerish," he said. Sean Burroughs acted giddy about his McDonald's Monopoly game. And Lyle Overbay was making it clear he wouldn't let Hill slip up during the"

Arizona Diamondbacks' Aaron Hill making impact with new club

September 9

Arizona Republic

"Everyone seems to have a theory about Aaron Hill, about how the second baseman has gone from being one of baseball's least productive hitters to a suddenly resurgent one since joining the Diamondbacks. There are those who point to him benefiting from a change in philosophy, going from a club in Toronto with a swing-from-your-heels reputation to one supposedly more suited to his approach. Some wonder about the role of luck, suggesting that Hill had more than his share of the bad kind. And still others say health was a factor, that more than once Hill hurried back from injury before he was healthy. A lot of baseball people like Hill as a player. They like his athleticism and his swing. They"

Doling out credit; strength of schedule; Hill's numbers; interleague in 2012; & other stuff

September 7

Arizona Republic

columnist Nick Piecoro

"FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal had an interesting note in his column yesterday in which he discussed which GM deserves credit for the 2011 Diamondbacks, a club that's been shaped in some ways by four different GMs – and, as Rosenthal notes, by a former scouting director who has been taking some credit himself. It's a fascinating question, given that each general manager has ties to several key contributors on the club. Joe Garagiola Jr. was the GM -- and Nationals GM Mike Rizzo the scouting director -- when the club drafted Stephen Drew and Justin Upton and signed Miguel Montero and Gerardo Parra. Josh Byrnes presided over the acquisitions of Ian Kennedy and Chris Young, and he was in"

John McDonald, Aaron Hill's debuts with Arizona Diamondbacks no surprise to Lyle Overbay, Ryan Roberts

August 26

Arizona Republic

"The driving factor for Tuesday's trade with the Toronto Blue Jays was infield defense, and those who are overly familiar with the two players the Diamondbacks acquired weren't at all surprised by what they saw in the duo's first game Wednesday. "They've got really good range," first baseman Lyle Overbay said of his former Blue Jays teammates, John McDonald and Aaron Hill. "Johnny Mac is one of the best. It's hard to not compare him with some of the best." Said third baseman Ryan Roberts, also an ex-Blue Jays player, of McDonald: "I don't think he gets as much credit as he deserves. He's one of the best there is." Hill made a nice play on a Ryan Zimmerman ground ball in the third inning"

As press conferences go, this was a weird one

August 24

Toronto Sun

columnist Bob Elliott

"As post-trade press conferences go, it was the weirdest we have ever seen. How many have we seen? One hundred, 200? There at the podium Monday afternoon was Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulous flanked by Aaron Hill and John McDonald. Usually players don't want to be within a tape-measure home run of the guy who uprooted his family. The message was: Anthopoulos had shipped both to the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks for the final six weeks of the season with the chance for both to play in October. And — wait for it — both could be back in Dunedin next February with the Jays next season. So sayeth all three. It was as if the Jays were announcing the two were headed to Disneyland"

The curious downfall of Aaron Hill

August 24

Toronto Sun

columnist Steve Simmons

"Back near the corner of the Blue Jays lush clubhouse is where Aaron Hill used to sit, his locker not far from Vernon Wells. Not that long ago, they weren't just the future or the players to build around, they represented the present. They were the talent, the leaders, the known commodities, the clubhouse voices of reason that every team needs. Solid people, solid players, and then just like that, they weren't Blue Jays anymore. Wells was sent packing mostly because his contract was more than onerous and because Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos found someone willing to pay that ridiculous bill. Hill was sent packing to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, for not much really in"

Arizona sends Johnson to Toronto for Hill, McDonald

August 24

MLB.com

"Second baseman Aaron Hill and infielder John McDonald, two popular long-time Blue Jays, were escorted out the door on Tuesday in a trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks for second baseman Kelly Johnson. "Obviously, I know from the fans this will be a tough one," general manager Alex Anthopoulos told the media Tuesday before the game against the Kansas City Royals. He then left open the door for the return of either player. "I have not ruled out either player being back here in 2012," Anthopoulos said. So this might be not be a final goodbye, after all. All three players in the deal could become free agents in the offseason. Hill, McDonald and Anthopoulos all talked about the possibility of"

Diamondbacks trade Kelly Johnson to Toronto for Aaron Hill

August 23

ArizonaSports.com

"The Arizona Diamondbacks made a move Tuesday, as Sports 620 KTAR's John Gambadoro reports the D-backs are sending Kelly Johnson to Toronto for shortstop John McDonald and second baseman Aaron Hill. Johnson has struggled in his second season with the Diamondbacks, posting a .209 average with 18 home runs and 49 RBI. He's seen his playing time -- and role -- diminish as the season has worn on, and with his contract expiring at the end of the year chances are he was not going to be brought back anyway."

UpHill climb for Jays second baseman to return in 2012

August 17

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"Wasn't it just four years ago that the Jays signed what was one of the brightest young talents in baseball, Aaron Hill, to a creative four-year contract, plus three option years that would carry him well into his free-agency eligibility? The unique concept of the deal was put together by rising young assistant GM Alex Anthopoulos. Cost certainty for the team and financial security for the player. Win-win. At the time it was a feel-good story for a future all-star second baseman that had the ability to hit for both average and power. Four years later, it's all gone sour. The Jays already turned down the final option year last spring and are poised to make the confused 29-year-old"

Up-Hill battle

August 14

Toronto Sun

"It has been a rough season for Blue Jays second baseman Aaron Hill, who got the day off Saturday. In 2009, Hill hit .286 with 36 home runs and 108 RBIs and was the starting second baseman at the all-star game. Last season his average dipped to just .205 but he maintained his power stroke with 26 homers and 68 RBIs. This season, Hill isn't hitting for average (.226) or power (five homers and 15 doubles). "He has been battling to try and find his stroke, you could probably say, for the better part of the season," manager John Farrell said. "He is in the midst of a grind, a long grind.""

The future of Aaron Hill with the Toronto Blue Jays

August 1

Bleacher Report

"Dare I say the worst thing that ever happened to Aaron Hill was the 2009 season? Yeah, the season when he won the Silver Slugger Award and was considered one of the best young second baseman in the league. But what exactly was the worse "thing" that happened to Hill that year was the 36 home runs. Why you ask? If one observes the 2005-2008 version of Hill, one remembers the sweet, compact and quick stroke an ideal No. 2 hitter possesses. That swing earned him the ability to hit for average, with a decent on-base percentage and some home run pop. Then 2008 came around and we all remembered the concussion Hill suffered when he collided with the tiniest player in baseball, David Eckstein. We"

Jays lose again, but getting healthier

May 9

Toronto Star

"The Blue Jays wrap up a four-game set with the Tigers Monday night with what could be their first fully healthy lineup since opening day. Adam Lind, who missed Sunday's 5-2 loss to Detroit with lower back pains, expects to play Monday. Lind's presence, combined with the return from injury of Jose Bautista and Aaron Hill on Sunday, gives the Jays a platform of hope for a better overall performance from the team. Right now, that team, while riddled with injuries for most of this season, remains inconsistent at best. There are mounting troubles on offence and the starting staff, despite the return of Brandon Morrow, has produced only a couple of dominating performances over the past several"

Bautista, Hill make return for Jays as Lind sits out with back pain

May 9

Toronto Sun

"Aaron Hill is back. Ditto for Jose Bautista. Adam Lind? Well, what does the Meatloaf song say -- Two Out of Three Ain't Bad. While the top two mentioned players were back in the Blue Jays lineup Sunday from various ailments -- a hamstring issue that put Hill on the DL, a stiff neck that placed Bautista on the shelf for the past five games -- Lind was on the pine because of lower back pain. It has been a recurring theme, more of a nightmare really for manager John Farrell as it seems that a day can't go by this season without one of his key cogs being on the sidelines or on the limp. In fact, of the 34 games the Jays have played to date, they have had all of 13 where Hill, Bautista and Lind"

Jays activate Hill; Bautista on pace to return Sunday

May 8

Toronto Star

"The Jays will assess slugger Jose Bautista Sunday morning before determining if he is sound enough to return to the lineup. Bautista, who has missed the last six games with a stiff neck, took hitting practice in the hitting cages and ran on the field Saturday to test himself against his injury. Manager John Farrell said the activity did not reproduce any of the pain Bautista experienced when he suffered the injury a week ago in New York."

Hill off DL, Bautista on track for Sunday

May 8

MLB.com

"Aaron Hill was activated from the disabled list following Saturday's night's game and will be available to play Sunday. Hill -- who has missed the last 16 games with a sore right hamstring -- flew back to Toronto Saturday from Florida, where he had been on a rehab assignment with Class A Dunedin. Blue Jays manager John Farrell expects the 29-year-old to be slotted in at second base for his Mother's Day lineup against Detroit. Slugger Jose Bautista, meanwhile, took batting practice in the cage at Rogers Centre Saturday and could return to the lineup Sunday as the Blue Jays' designated hitter."

Aaron Hill nearly healthy enough to come off DL

May 4

Toronto Sun

"It was a bit of an old boys reunion Tuesday as the Blue Jays arrived at the clubhouse for the series opener against Tampa Bay. Jesse Carlson, Dustin McGowan and Aaron Hill all made the short trip from Dunedin to visit. Only Hill is expected to be seen in a Jays uniform soon. "Unless there's any setbacks I'll fly in (to Toronto) Sunday and be ready," said Hill, who will play in three games with class-A Dunedin, plus an extended spring training game. Hill led the club with six stolen bases when he went down with a hamstring injury. He said he's not going to change his aggressive play. But manager John Farrell notes they may have to temper that enthusiasm to keep him off the disabled list."

Jays place Aaron Hill on DL

April 25

The Globe and Mail

"The Toronto Blue Jays have placed second baseman Aaron Hill on the 15-day disabled list. Hill has been trying to work through a sore right hamstring that he initially injured in a game against the New York Yankees on April 19th. Needing to fill a spot on the roster for Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers, the Blue Jays decided before Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays to place Hill on the disabled list, retroactive to April 20th. That means Hill will be able to rejoin the team as early as May 4th when the Blue Jays are in Tampa for a series against the Rays. The Blue Jays also activated Jesse Litsch from Triple-A Las Vegas and the right-hander will start Tuesday against the"

Aaron Hill day-to-day with nagging hamstring injury

April 21

The Globe and Mail

"The nagging hamstring issue that plagued Aaron Hill over the course of the season last year will keep him out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees. And it remains unclear when the second baseman will be able to return to the club. Hill said the injury, to his right hamstring, felt a lot better on Wednesday than it did when he initially hurt it stealing second base in the sixth inning of Tuesday's game against the Yankees. "We're throwing as much stuff [treatment] at it as we can," Hill said on Wednesday. "Obviously they're not going to let it go a long time without doing something. Hopefully it continues to get better, like today." At the moment, the Blue Jays"

Aaron Hill exits game with right hamstring tightness

April 20

MLB.com

"Blue Jays second baseman Aaron Hill left Tuesday's game against the New York Yankees in the sixth inning with tightness in his right hamstring after stealing second base. It was his team-leading sixth steal of the season. He was replaced by John McDonald who ran for him and went to second base."

Blue Jays success hinges on Aaron Hill

March 23

The Globe and Mail

columnist Jeff Blair

"Aaron Hill took the field Tuesday afternoon with one final admonishment in his ears – this one from general manager Alex Anthopoulos. In two words: "Go easy." Judging from Hill's demeanour, following the Toronto Blue Jays brain trust's orders to the max hurt more than the tight right quadriceps muscle that has hampered him this spring. Coming off a season in which he turned into a flat-out masher – 26 home runs, but a paltry .205 batting average put together by a toxic combination of bad luck (a .196 batting average on balls in play, light years lower than any other player with enough at bats to qualify for the batting title) and a swing that seemed to be put together by gum, string and"

Blue Jays' lineup takes shape with Hill's return

March 23

MLB.com

"Aaron Hill made his long-awaited return to the Blue Jays' lineup on Tuesday afternoon in a 5-4 loss to the Phillies. Hill went 0-for-3 while playing six innings at second base. The 28-year-old missed the first 21 games of the Grapefruit League season because of tightness in his right quadriceps muscle. "It just felt good to get out there, [to] be in a big league ballgame and be with the guys," Hill said. "I've been with them every day, but leaving early to go over to the Minor League side to get some at-bats. It just felt good to stay here for once.""

Jays taking it easy with Hill

March 23

Toronto Sun

"Second baseman Aaron Hill played in his first regular scheduled spring-training game Tuesday but there's still some concern that he may not be ready for the start of the season. That downer came from Hill, who has been hobbled by a right quad injury. "It was good to get out there and see what I've got," said Hill who moved at half speed coming out of the box and three-quarters speed in the infield. "I can play but it's going to be their decision (Opening Day). Hopefully it will be fine by then but it will be their decision if they want to go forward with me being at 80, 90%. "It is better for the long run to not be stupid (and rush it), I guess." Even though it was his first day in an A"

Jays' Hill aims for Tuesday return in 'A' game

March 19

Toronto Sun

"Tuesday is now the target date for second baseman Aaron Hill to make his first start in a spring-training 'A' game. Manager John Farrell said that Hill will continue to get his at-bats in minor-league games with the understanding that he not bolt out of the batter's box and re-injure his quad that has kept him out of the lineup all spring. "He's gaining a little bit more confidence in his quad and all his pre-game work is normal," Farrell said. "He's going through the same arrangement today. We're still shooting for Tuesday's A game here (against the Phillies). That will be the time to get him in an A game and take the wraps off him a bit." If that's the case, Hill would have nine games"

Hill's progress slow, but sure

March 16

Toronto Sun

"Not all the news this day was doom and gloom as second baseman Aaron Hill went through his running and hitting drills without a hitch and is ready to take the next step which is an appearance Wednesday in a minor-league game. Hill, who has been bothered by a right quad injury, has yet to appear in a regular spring training game this spring. "It was good, I made a big stride out there today just doing some pickup sprints," Hill said. "They say to take a guarded approach I guess but we're still going to play out everything. If it feels this way today, tomorrow we'll go out and get some bats in the minors leagues. They don't want me busting out of the box but I'll see some pitching and take"

Hill's debut brief, productive

March 3

Toronto Sun

"On a back field at the Phillies' spring complex, Aaron Hill dipped his big toe into the waters of spring training, more than satisfied with the result. Still recovering from a mild quad strain in his right leg, Hill led off the first and second innings and played second base for half an inning in a B game between the Blue Jays and Phils. He flied out to centre in the first, cleanly handled an easy chance in the field in the bottom of the inning and bounced a ground-rule double over the fence in left-centre into a stiff 30 km/h wind in the second off pitcher Drew Naylor to end his spring debut. Under normal circumstances the double would have easily gone out of the park. "That was all I"

Hill making progress on road to recovery

March 3

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"For injured second baseman Aaron Hill, it was a short drive to Clearwater on Wednesday, but a long step towards a full return to health. Suffering from a strained right quadriceps since early in training camp, Hill batted leadoff in each of the first two innings of a B Game vs. the Phillies, and played one inning in the field, before being pinch run for and hitching a van ride back to the Jays' clubhouse in Dunedin for ice and treatment. His next game is Friday vs. Canada's junior nationals. "We're taking it slow," Hill explained. "No rush, but it was good to get out there and get it going a little bit. I didn't really get after it too much. At this point it's just going to be, the day you"

Jays fans putting their faith in the future

January 29

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"If the Jays were ever seeking direction for their State of the Franchise event on Thursday, in which they hosted 500 ticket holders at the Rogers Centre, they needed look no further than two days earlier when President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union to a skeptical American audience. Obama's message included the advice to stay positive, remain financially responsible and take control of the future — sounding the same basic message as the Jays' three-man panel of president Paul Beeston, GM Alex Anthopoulos and manager John Farrell, alongside Hall-of-Famer Roberto Alomar. Seated comfortably in lounge chairs atop the third-base dugout facing their inquisitors, it was Beeston and"

Even without Wells, Jays have top power duo

January 25

MLB.com

"Baseball watchers have been so busy dissecting last week's big Blue Jays-Angels trade that a most interesting sidebar has gone largely unnoticed. The separation of Vernon Wells (31 home runs) from Jose Bautista (54) in the Toronto lineup broke up the Major Leagues' top one-two power punch of 2010, perhaps the finishing touch on an offseason market that has witnessed an uncommon number of home runs on the move. When Vladimir Guerrero lands somewhere, as long as it's outside of Arlington, he will become the ninth player of last season's top 30 home run hitters to switch teams. The traffic has considerably shaken up the ranks of the game's leading power packs, but the most amazing consequence"

Jays' Hill could move to third

October 3

Toronto Sun

columnist Bob Elliott

"We can hear Rogers Centre P.A. announcer Tim Langton now: "And playing third base for YOUR Toronto Blue Jays ... Aaron Hill." "I want to stay at second, but I'm not opposed to moving, if it makes the team better," Hill said after the Jays gave one away, a 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins as closer Kevin Gregg faced six men and retired two Saturday afternoon at Target Field. Hill said he and general manager Alex Anthopoulos discussed the manner earlier this season. What to do with Hill is one of the many decision the Jays face heading into the off-season, which begins after the final pitch of Sunday's game. Do the Jays play American League home run leader Jose Bautista in right field or at"

Aaron Hill leads way as Jays beat Yankees

September 6

Toronto Star

"Back in the good old days when ballplayers were performing mostly on one-year contracts, whenever a player on an also-ran team posted a great September, cynics would label it a "salary drive." For Aaron Hill, who had three hits, including a double and a home run, and three RBIs in the Blue Jays' 7-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday, this is clearly not a salary drive. The man is already locked into a nice long-term deal with several club options that could take him through 2014. No, for Hill this month of September in a season of struggle is more of a "sanity drive." "As bad as I want to say it's been, it could always be worse," Hill said grimly. "This year's been a lot of"

Advice to Morneau: Take the time to recover

August 30

MLB.com

"Aaron Hill hasn't forgotten how strong his desire was to get back on the field. The Blue Jays second baseman vividly remembers wanting to ignore all the advice from people to take things easy as he tried to return from a concussion he suffered during the 2008 season. It's why Hill can empathize with Justin Morneau's current situation. Hill was not on the field for the Blue Jays on July 7 when the Twins first baseman suffered his own concussion, when Morneau was accidentally kneed in the head by Toronto shortstop John McDonald during a takeout slide into second base trying to break up a double play."

Jays' Hill, Lind searching for magic

August 26

Toronto Sun

"year ago, Aaron Hill and Adam Lind were the glue that held the Blue Jays offence together, combining for 71 homers and 222 RBI. Hard to imagine that, five months into this season, both players are still trying to recapture even some of that magic. Hill went into Tuesday's game hitting .206, Lind at .234, both with power numbers cut in half from last year. While Lind is showing signs of a recovery, for Hill, the struggle has deepened. They started the season with Hill as the No. 2 hitter and Lind at No. 3 because manager Cito Gaston didn't want to mess with last season's karma. Two months into the season, Hill was hitting .179 and Lind was at .174 when Gaston moved Lind down to five and"

Dynamic duo beat Orioles

July 27

Toronto Sun

"It was '80s night at the ballpark but the Blue Jays didn't have to have such long memories to get a feel-good vibe. No, for one night at least, they were more than pleased to have it feel like 2009. You remember those good old days? When Adam Lind and Aaron Hill were belting everything they saw for base hits and home runs? Well, it was like that Monday night. Lind had three hits and Hill had a pair. It was only the second time this year they have combined for multi-hit games, something they did 21 times in 2009. They each homered for only the second time in the same game in 2010, something they did six times last year. And between them, they drove in five of Toronto's eight runs in an 9-5"

A sight for sore eyes

July 12

Toronto Sun

"The most heartwarming sign from Sunday's loss against the Red Sox for the Blue Jays wasn't the solid seven-inning outing by Jesse Litsch. Rather, it came in the Jays' half of the inning when, following a solid single by Adam Lind, Aaron Hill drove the next pitch from Daisuke Matsuzaka over the fence in left for a two-run homer. The sight of Hill and Lind greeting each other at home plate after a home run was a common occurrence last season, but the hitting woes of the two Golden Boys has reduced that occurrence to the same frequency as UFO sightings. "Hopefully, we'll see a lot of that in the second half," Hill said. The Jays (44-45) closed out the first half of the season with a 3-2 loss"

Jays shuffle the deck, come up aces

June 25

Toronto Star

"Aaron Hill and Adam Lind avoided heavy criticism while they remained in prolonged batting funks almost three months into the season. So much more was expected of the two 2009 standouts than paltry batting averages and single-digit home run totals, but their performances a year ago earned them a full measure of respect from critics and fans alike. But by Thursday night, Blue Jays Cito Gaston had seen enough. There was plenty of reason to drop the two struggling stars down in the batting order, and that's exactly what Gaston did for the finale of a three-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals. Lind responded with a homer — his first since May 31 — and Hill had an infield single in four"

Aaron Hill's blast wins it for Blue Jays

June 20

Toronto Star

"In his first major-league outing in 14 months, Jesse Litsch lasted less than three innings against the Colorado Rockies last Sunday, and he spent the six days between starts stewing over the extra work he'd imposed on the Blue Jays' bullpen. The feeling that he had let his team down gnawed at Litsch all week, and when he took the mound Saturday against the San Francisco Giants he planned to do something about it. Meanwhile, second baseman Aaron Hill spent most of Saturday's game the way most of Toronto's batters did — struggling to solve Giants starter Matt Cain, who had allowed just four hits heading through 7 2/3 innings. After flying out in his first three at-bats, Hill came to the"

Aaron Hill's RBI single lifts Jays past Yankees in marathon

June 6

Toronto Star

"The toughest part about playing 14 innings? Blue Jays catcher John Buck says it's the beating his feet take. Each inning, the ground behind home plate grows a little harder and each time Buck would dig in to settle into his crouch, he dug a little closer to the layer of concrete beneath the field. By the end of 14 innings Saturday, his already gnarled feet were calling out for some attention."

Hill snaps slump as Blue Jays crush Orioles

May 29

Toronto Star

"Nearly four hours before Friday night's series opener with the Orioles began, and long before most of his teammates started batting practice, struggling second baseman Aaron Hill stepped into the batting cage and sought the simple way out of his season-long slump. Each time pitching coach Bruce Walton would deliver, Hill would uncoil the quick, compact swing that carried him to a career-high 36 home runs last year, and later he said the session reminded him of when baseball was more fun and less complex — just him, a basket of baseballs and the crack of the bat echoing loudly through the empty stadium. Though Hill entered Friday's game batting just .154, the extra work seemed to revitalize"

Hill finds balance two years after scare

May 27

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"Two years ago at the end of May, Jays second baseman Aaron Hill arrived with his team for a series against the Angels and had to be taken to an emergency room because of the concussion he had suffered that afternoon in Oakland. That is a distant but bad memory. Fast forward to Wednesday morning, two years after his career almost ended in this city: He happily took his wife Lizzie and his daughter Paige Victoria to the airport after a great three days and then went on to the ballpark for the series finale against the Angels. The first experience reminds him that there are always worse things in life than a long batting slump. The second reminds him daily that there are certainly better"

Tight right hamstring sidelines Jays' Hill, not his slumping bat

May 13

MLB.com

"The Blue Jays' initial lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox included Aaron Hill's name. Manager Cito Gaston felt that a day off would not sit well with the slumping second baseman. "He's the type of kid that I think if you did that to him, it would hurt him more than help him," Gaston explained. "If I thought it would help him, I certainly would do it." Shortly before the game began, though, Hill was a late scratch due to tightness in his right hamstring -- the same injury that cost him two weeks on the disabled list in April. Prior to being pulled from the lineup, Hill told reporters that the injury had nothing to do with his recent struggles."

Jays duo of Lind and Hill less than dynamic this year

May 13

The Globe and Mail

"The combination of Aaron Hill and Adam Lind blossomed into one of the most feared hitting tandems in major-league baseball last year, combining for 71 home runs and 222 runs batted in for the Toronto Blue Jays. Together the pair accounted for 34 per cent of Toronto's home run total, 29 per cent of the RBIs, 25 per cent of runs scored, and 25 per cent of the hits. Six weeks into the 2010 regular season, that blossom is withering, with both players struggling to find their offensive footing. Neither Lind or Hill were in the starting lineup for the series finale here against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday afternoon, but the Blue Jays insist it had nothing to do with their continuing"

Hill goes bird-doggin'

May 3

Toronto Sun

columnist Bob Elliott

"With 29 days to go until the June 7 draft, the Blue Jays - with nine selections in the first three rounds - have 36 amateur scouts criss-crossing North America looking for talent. Besides general manager Alex Anthopoulos, his special assistant Dana Brown, assistant GM Tony LaCava, scouting director Andrew Tinnish, pro scouts Ed Lynch, Rick Down, Brian Parker, Gary Rajsich and scouting co-ordinator Ryan Mittleman have turned in reports on players. Yet, none of these scouts has up-close and personal, first-hand knowledge of one prospect in particular. But another prominent member of the organization does. While re-habbing last month, Jays second baseman Aaron Hill faced Windsor lefty Evan"

Tallet, Encarnacion headed to Jays DL; Hill to be activated for Friday's game

April 22

The Globe and Mail

"The bad news continued to pile up on the Toronto Blue Jays today after they dropped a tough 4-3 decision to the Kansas City Royals in 10-innings. After the game concluded the American League club announced that starting pitcher Brian Tallet is being sent to the 15-day disabled list with a sore left pitching arm. The Blue Jays also said that third baseman Edwin Encarnacion, who has now missed seven consecutive games with a sore right arm, will join him on the DL. Tallet had been complaining of soreness to his left forearm ever since his last start on Saturday when he was saddled with the loss in a 6-3 setback to the Los Angeles Angels."

Jays place Hill who is out with sore right hamstring on 15 day DL

April 13

Toronto Star

"The tweak in Aaron Hill's right hamstring has also put his nose out of joint. Toronto's second baseman insists he's fit enough to play. Blue Jay management, heeding medical advice, says nyah-uh. Guess who lost the argument? Grumblingly, Hill has accepted his now formally designated DL status. Toronto put him on the disabled list just prior to their home opener against the Chicago White Sox Monday evening – retroactive to last Thursday. He'll be eligible to return to the lineup April 23 in Tampa."

No thrill for Hill

April 10

Toronto Sun

"Aaron Hill was in a grouchy mood on Friday. It was hours before the Blue Jays battled against the Orioles in Baltimore's home opener but Hill knew that for the second game in a row he would be a cheerleader, a spectator and nothing else. The problem is Hill's right hamstring, a muscle that he initially tweaked in the ninth inning of Monday's season opener in Texas against the Rangers. Following on off-day on Tuesday, Hill was back in the field for Wednesday's game playing at less than 100%. "That wasn't fun," Hill said Friday. "When I was running down the line (in the eighth inning) in my last at-bat, I pulled it." As a result, Hill missed Thursday's finale in Texas and probably will not"

Hills, Mills and thrills

April 3

Toronto Sun

"How long have Aaron Hill and Houston Astros manager Brad Mills, been pals? "I was reading one of my mother's diaries this winter," said Hill, 28. "My mom was pregnant with me and she wrote: 'Not feeling well, unable to attend dinner party at Rhonda and Brad Mills' house tonight'. Our families were close before I even arrived." Mills, 53, says the relationship between the Hills and the Mills is almost as old as the California hills, outside of Visalia, Calif., well at least back to the days when Mills was in college with Hill's father, Walt. "Before we married, my wife lived one house over from Aaron's mother," said Mills, former Boston Red Sox bench coach, now rookie Astros manager. Hill's"