Aaron Hill re-broke out with his 2012 performance for the Arizona Diamondbacks. After two very disappointing seasons, he really put it together, establishing himself once again as a top second baseman. He only hails to Brandon Phillips in all of the NL; but at this point, he should be ranked ahead of the likes of Dan Uggla, Neil Walker and Chase Utley. He had an equally impressive 2009 season with the Toronto Blue Jays, but it is safer to say he should maintain the numbers he put up this year.
Of course, there is no way to tell how a player will adjust year to year. After his 2009 season, at age 27, he went backwards hitting .205 in 2010 despite 26 HR and saw his HR numbers drop to 8 in his 2011 season split between the Blue Jays and D'Backs. There was also some concern with his OBP, which had dropped to under .300 both of those seasons. HIs 2012 numbers were impressive, hitting .302, 26, 85. Clearly his best season since his 2009 numbers of .286, 36, 108.
Playing in Toronto has led to increased power numbers for Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind, among others, so it made sense to compare Hill's drop in HRs to the changing of teams from Toronto to Arizona. But, how do you explain the drop in 2010? And the even worse drop in 2011 which led to his trade for 2B Kelly Johnson?
Hill played in 158 games in 2009, edging out his 156 games in 2012. He led the AL in ABs with 682 in 2009, finishing with 609 in 2012. He also scored more runs (103-93) and had more hits (195-184) in 2009. However, he had more 2Bs (44-37) and 3Bs (6-0) in 2012. He also hit for the cycle twice during the most recent season. In 2009, he had 36 HR and 108 RBI, besting his totals of 26, 85 in 2012. His .302 2012 average was better than his 2009 .286.
What made 2012 a better season for Hill was his plate discipline and the fact he did not depend as much on the long ball for the bulk of his hits. He showed very good power to the gaps and tended not to pull the ball as much as he did in 2009. That showed as he had more walks (52-42) in less ABa in 2012. He also struck out less in 2012 (86-98). His OBP naturally was much better in 2012 (.360-.330) and his SLG was also higher (.522-.499). His .882-.829 advantage in OPS led him to a 131-114 advantage in OPS+ for the 2012 season. Finally, despite having more total bases in 2009 than 2012, he managed to have more extra base hits (76-73) in 2012.
Overall I can see Hill maintaining his success in 2012, being he is not trying to be as much of a power hitter as he was in Toronto. In 2010, it was evident he was trying to hit a HR more often than he should have been. Now he is more accepting of his role as a number two hitter. In all of baseball, I would only rank Phillips, Robinson Cano and Dustin Pedroia as being better all around 2B at this point. He ranks ahead of Ian Kinsler and Howie Kendrick, though I can see Seattle's Dustin Ackley having a breakout season in 2013.
Playing in Toronto has led to increased power numbers for Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind, among others, so it made sense to compare Hill's drop in HRs to the changing of teams from Toronto to Arizona. But, how do you explain the drop in 2010? And the even worse drop in 2011 which led to his trade for 2B Kelly Johnson?
Hill played in 158 games in 2009, edging out his 156 games in 2012. He led the AL in ABs with 682 in 2009, finishing with 609 in 2012. He also scored more runs (103-93) and had more hits (195-184) in 2009. However, he had more 2Bs (44-37) and 3Bs (6-0) in 2012. He also hit for the cycle twice during the most recent season. In 2009, he had 36 HR and 108 RBI, besting his totals of 26, 85 in 2012. His .302 2012 average was better than his 2009 .286.
What made 2012 a better season for Hill was his plate discipline and the fact he did not depend as much on the long ball for the bulk of his hits. He showed very good power to the gaps and tended not to pull the ball as much as he did in 2009. That showed as he had more walks (52-42) in less ABa in 2012. He also struck out less in 2012 (86-98). His OBP naturally was much better in 2012 (.360-.330) and his SLG was also higher (.522-.499). His .882-.829 advantage in OPS led him to a 131-114 advantage in OPS+ for the 2012 season. Finally, despite having more total bases in 2009 than 2012, he managed to have more extra base hits (76-73) in 2012.
Overall I can see Hill maintaining his success in 2012, being he is not trying to be as much of a power hitter as he was in Toronto. In 2010, it was evident he was trying to hit a HR more often than he should have been. Now he is more accepting of his role as a number two hitter. In all of baseball, I would only rank Phillips, Robinson Cano and Dustin Pedroia as being better all around 2B at this point. He ranks ahead of Ian Kinsler and Howie Kendrick, though I can see Seattle's Dustin Ackley having a breakout season in 2013.
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