Yard Goats Slugger Sam Hilliard Named to EL All-Star Game Home Run Derby
July 3, 2018 - Eastern League (EL1)
Hartford Yard Goats News Release
Hartford, Conn - The Hartford Yard Goats Baseball Club, the Double-A Eastern League Affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, has been informed by the Eastern League office and the Trenton Thunder that outfielder Sam Hilliard has been selected to participate in the Eastern League All-Star Game Home Run Derby on Tuesday, July 10th at ARM & HAMMER Park in Trenton, New Jersey, home of the New York Yankees affiliate, the Trenton Thunder. Hilliard and five of his Yard Goats teammates were named to the Eastern League All-Star team on Friday. He will represent the Eastern Division along with OF Trey Amburgey (Trenton Thunder) INF Abiatal Avelino (Trenton Thunder), and INF Zach Green (Reading Fightin Phils). The Western Division will feature OF Luigi Rodriguez (Richmond Flying Squirrels), C Taylor Gushue (Harrisburg Senators), OF Connor Marabell (Akron RubberDucks) and INF Will Craig (Altoona Curve). The Home Run Derby will take place the night before the Eastern League All-Star Game.
The home run derby competition will begin with a four-minute round for each participant to hit as many home runs as possible with the top two totals advancing to the final. In the event of a tie after the first round, participants will get 90 seconds to participate in a swing-off for the opportunity to advance to the final.
Hilliard, infielder Brendan Rodgers, outfielder Yonathan Daza, and pitchers Peter Lambert, Matt Pierpont and Mitch Horacek were named to Eastern League All-Star team. The six selections are tied for the most in the Eastern League.
Hilliard, 24, ranks tied for second in the Eastern League with 19 stolen bases. He has put together a fantastic first half, batting .281 with 13 doubles, six home runs and 24 RBI in his first season with the Yard Goats. The Mansfield, Texas product has been an All-Star for the third consecutive season (Low-A Asheville- South Atlantic League in 2016 and High-A Lancaster-California League in 2017). Hilliard batted .366 with 7 doubles in 20 games in month of June.
The Hartford Yard Goats return to Dunkin' Donuts Park tomorrow and begin their next homestand (Wednesday, July 4th 4:05 PM) and host the Boston Red Sox affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs. Tickets for all home games are on sale by calling 860-246-GOAT (4628), by visiting online at www.yardgoatsbaseball.com, or in person at the Click It or Ticket Box Office at Dunkin' Donuts Park.
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