ATLANTA-- Center fielder Michael Harris II might return from the injured checklist following week, at which point the Braves are likely to move very early period shock Sam Hilliard from center to left area for what has the possible to be the best protective outfield in the majors." It does not obtain any better" than that trio would be defensively, stated Hall of Famer Chipper Jones, a Braves hitting expert and also former 3rd baseman who also played almost 400 video games in left area midway with his would be the first to say he didn't play outfield defense at nearly the level of Harris or Ronald Acua Jr., or how Hilliard has played it for 17 video games this period, consisting of 12 begins in center considering that Harris went on the 10-day injured listing on April 7 with a back strain. Harris will start an injury-rehab task with Triple-A Gwinnett on , similarly, would never be stated in the very same sentence as Jones as a hitter-- other than in a sentence like this-- yet what he's done since spring is a pointer of why he was a top Mountain ranges prospect a few years earlier. It likewise clarifies why Braves basic manager Alex Anthopoulos traded for him in is striking.327 with three home runs, four taken bases and a. 992 OPS, including two homers in Monday's 11-0 thrashing of the Marlins-- the Spencer Strider game-- and also an RBI single in a three-run 4th inning Tuesday when the Braves damaged it open en path to a 7-4 win against Albies had two crowning achievement Tuesday-- he has a team-high seven, consisting of 5 in nine games-- as well as Eddie Rosario homered for the second day in a row. The Braves transferred to 100 video games over.500 all-time versus the Marlins, improving to 301-201, and also did it on the fifth wedding anniversary of Acua's big-time a doubled on the initial pitch of the game, went to third on his majors-leading 13th stolen base, and racked up on an Austin Riley single. Acua had two hits as well as rankings 2nd in the majors with a. 364 standard, including a remarkable 14-for-22.636) with 5 doubles as well as a homer leading off the first Tuesday, Hilliard ranked 11th in the majors in OPS amongst those with 45 or even more at-bats. Not bad for an individual who had to compete with several various other prospects for a bench work on the Opening Day " Right now, I feel like I'm just playing loose, playing totally free, " said Hilliard, 29, who struck just.212 with a. 717 OPS throughout components of the past four periods with Colorado. "I'm getting the opportunity to play a little much more. I believe that's constantly helpful for any gamer. Simply to obtain the reps, enter that rhythm." Baseball is such a rhythm, momentum-based sport. When you're hot simply try to ride it out as long as you can, because you know it's not mosting likely to last forever." Braves fans have promptly taken a liking to Hilliard, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound Texan that plays hard, strikes rounds a long means Ezequiel Tovar Jersey (https://www.rockiessportshop.com/collections/ezequiel-tovar-jersey), and also runs much faster as well as moves extra efficiently than may be anticipated of a player his size. In Monday's win, he had a swiped base to select 2 homers, the only Braves player to have a steal as well as homer or 2 homers) in the exact same video game this recently's two-city roadway trip, Hilliard hit a 448-foot homer at Kansas City as well as made a marvelous catch to rob Manny Machado of a homer at San played well late last period after being optioned to Three-way An and mosted likely to Braves camp established to construct on that energy as well as maintain a more athletic strategy at the plate. He recognized he had actually ended up being inflexible listening to so lots of trains trying to aid repair his the Braves, the advice as well as suggestions from striking trainer Kevin Seitzer, assistant hitting train Bobby Magallanes as well as Jones have actually helped him include a pair of points without compromising that athleticism." Of all the individuals, conserve Michael Harris, he is just one of the toolsier men that have come with right here, " Jones stated. "He's 6-4, can run, with an actually good arm. He was a bit upright and also rotational with his swing when he obtained right here, as well as a lot like we've finished with a Matt Olson or perhaps Austin) Riley, is just obtain him to pivot a little bit at the hips and bend over a little, so he remains on balance and does not obtain as rotational. Altered his sites from right-center to left-center, and it's actually aided him." AdvertisementJones thinks Hilliard has significant upside, as well as reducing strikeouts-- he has 21 in 49 at-bats-- will certainly be a key to continual production." I believe he is among those individuals like when Riley showed up, that we've reached get even more contact out of him, " Jones stated. "As well as if we obtain even more get in touch with, you're going to see a great deal of evenings like Monday). And to have those type of tools coming off the-- well, in springtime training he would certainly have been coming off the bench, but he's played himself right into some having fun time, also when a Mikey Harris returns. We have actually just obtained to stay on him due to the fact that a great deal of points that we've been making with him are brand-new, and also every day simply keep grinding it into him." Jones included in a matter-of-fact tone, "When you're talking regarding the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark from nasty post to foul pole with some significant damage, that's a special skill." Hilliard had 42 crowning achievement in 2019 in between the Rockies' Triple-An associate 35) and the majors 7), as well as Braves manager Brian Snitker stated he was not surprised when asked today regarding that huge total." With that capability that he's obtained-- big, solid male like that-- yeah, I can see limitless potential in a bat like that, " he said. "As long as they maintain functioning, that cares when it is that it clicks or they figure things out? Because when they do, it's something truly great. Still a great deal of season to go, but I sure like where he's at today." Hilliard's two-homer video game Monday was his first given that Sept. 18, 2019, his rookie season. The second was a sixth-inning tape-measure shot that left the bat at 114.8 miles per hour and also traveled an approximated 458 feet, the lengthiest and hardest-hit ball on an evening when the Braves struck 5 homers." As well as the sphere he struck in Kansas City-- those are spheres that he's been hooking and having a great deal of top-spin on previously), " Jones stated. "Because he has been rotational with his swing. And since he's keeping his nose down in there and also staying via it to center area, you're starting to see that carry." AdvertisementThat profession for Hilliard, barely noticed at the time outside of baseball's internal circles, cost the Braves just a fringe pitching prospect Daniel Bard Jersey (https://www.rockiessportshop.com/collections/daniel-bard-jersey), Dylan Spain. It brought a player that has appeared like even more than a deepness piece at the rear of the roster. Hilliard will be novice arbitration-eligible following winter months, assuming he remains in the majors for much or every one of this season, as well as the Braves would certainly have 3 seasons of legal control before totally free Rockies made Hilliard a 15th-round draft choice in 2015 out of Wichita State, where he pitched for one period in addition to playing very first base as well as outfield. He had 30 and 37 swiped bases in his first 2 minor-league periods in 2016 and also 2017, hitting.300 with 21 homers and an.847 OPS in the latter period in High a major-league newbie in 2019, he hit.273 with 7 homers and also a 1.006 OPS in 27 video games, motivating this headline prior to the pandemic-shortened 2020 season on a New york city Article rotisserie short article: "Five reasons that Rockies' Sam Hilliard might be best fantasy baseball discover" That choice would not have worked out so well, as Hilliard struck.210 with 6 homers and also 3 stolen bases in 36 video games. He split each of the following two periods in between the majors as well as Triple A, batting.201 with 16 homers and a. 661 OPS in 151 games for the Mountain ranges because span, including just.184 with 2 homers in 200 plate looks last season." I recalled at video clip of myself striking in 2015, in the middle of the year when I was really having a hard time, and I intended to regurgitate, " Hilliard claimed. "It simply didn't look like me. I was like, 'Who is this guy?' I remained in a negative place, and I just made a decision if I was mosting likely to drop, I was going to go down my means. I recognize I'm a great professional athlete, I'm mosting likely to head out there as well as really feel like one." Image of Hilliard: Brett Davis/ United States Today).