By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com
TORONTO — Aaron Hill doesn’t want to waste any time. Just three days after his college career ended, Toronto’s first-round pick is ready to get right back to business. Hill signed with the Blue Jays on Wednesday and reported to Single-A Auburn on Thursday.
Picked 13th overall, Hill had no intention of holding out for any length of time. The shortstop said that it was important for things to get done quickly, and he also said the team appreciated that.
“They came straight at me. I told them before they even drafted me: ‘I want to get out and play. I’m not going to sit out all summer,’ ” he said on a Wednesday conference call. “I think they had a lot of respect for that. They came at me with a fair number. We agreed on it. There wasn’t really any negotiations. They came at it, and, hey, we’re ready to play.”
Hill had a tremendous season for LSU, but he sees no reason to rest on his accomplishments. He led his team in several offensive categories and was named the Southeastern Conference’s Player of the Year. That wasn’t his only distinction: Hill was also named a second-team All American by Collegiate Baseball.
Still, the College World Series was the highlight of his season. LSU went 0-2 and was one of the first teams eliminated, but Hill still said it was a rewarding experience.
“You’ve got the top eight teams in the country ,and every one of those teams belongs to be there,” he said. “We had a young team, and it was tough going out in two games, but we were lucky to be there with all the things we’d been through this season. We sure were lucky to be in Omaha.”
Hill will go from that exciting locale to another one. He will skip the team’s rookie-league affiliate to join the New York-Penn League, but he should be well prepared for that jump. He was a member of the U.S. National Team last summer, and he also has had experience in the Cape Cod League, a wood-bat showcase for professional prospects.
Besides, that move isn’t exactly unprecedented. Russ Adams, Toronto’s top pick in 2002, did the same thing. Adams is already at Double-A New Haven, rising quickly through the organization. Hill said he hopes to play next to him one day, despite the fact that they currently play the same position.
“I’m going to fit wherever they want me to fit. I’m not worried about that,” he said. “Russ is a great player, and he deserved to get picked there. I’m sure he’s got a bright future ahead of him. If me and him match up some time down the road, I’d love to play second base or somewhere up the middle with him.
“If that’s what it comes down to, I don’t have a problem with it at all.”
Hill started his college career as a left fielder and a part-time second baseman, so he could concievably play somewhere else. Also, before his junior year, he was slated as the team’s starting third baseman. The other candidate for the job got hurt, though, and Hill stayed at short.
The real place he stands out is in the batter’s box. Hill led LSU in batting (.358), on-base percentage (.466), RBIs (67), runs (68), hits (95) and walks (47). One way or another, the Jays will find a way to get him on the field. As far as Hill’s concerned, they can’t do it quick enough.
“I told them: Let’s get going. Let’s play ball,” he said before laughing. “They said ‘OK, we’re sending you to Auburn.’ I agreed.”