Riley
Hill

VA/DC Scout Blog

Hill has a compact athletic frame, standing around 5-foot-5. He is undersized, but as it was said last night he plays like he is 6-foot-4. That could not be truer. In his first at bat he turned around a 90 mph fastball down the left field line for a double and would later score. In the seventh inning with multiple runners on base and a narrow one run lead Hill would take a two strike pitch and sneak it through the infield, making it 2-0 Franklin County. He has a short compact stroke at the plate and a level line drive swing. He is a contact bat with the ability to hit for average. The best thing about Hill's offense is he knows who he is and does not try to do too much. Defensively he is a very solid second baseman. He does not possess the physical attributes to play the left side, but more than handles his own at second and around the bag. In the middle innings Byrd had two runners on and nobody out when Hill got a tough topspin in-between hop, handled it with ease and started a 4-6-3 double play. In the sixth inning Hill came in for Crowl after a leadoff walk. He proceeds to throw a nine pitch inning getting two fly balls and a strikeout to hold the lead for Franklin. Hill is not going to overpower you in anything that he does, but he is going to compete and come at you. The fastball ranged from 75-77 mph and he uses his secondary whenever he wants. Similar to Crowl, Hill changes spins, speeds, and shapes to keep hitters off balance. Hill has been impressive the last two weeks and is a guy that I would take any day of the week because you know he is going to fight for your team and do whatever it takes to win, and to me that is the most important feature in a player. 

VA/DC State Games

Hill is 5-5 with an athletic frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the right side from an open more relaxed balanced stance, low leg kick stride on line, loads back to a wrap. Hips rotate completely and he maintains good lower half balance. Hands stay inside, short to the ball, slightly uphill line drive swing path, has a strong contact point, showed a primarily pull approach with the ability to use the whole field, exit velocity was 81. In the outfield, gets body behind the ball and fields through it with soft hands, quick clean exchange, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, short arm action, position velocity was 78. Showed versatility taking balls in the infield where his velocity was 74. Ran a 7.58 60 yard dash. On the mound, he throws from a lower three-quarters arm slot, short free arm action and normal effort to his delivery. Drop and drive delivery, shoulders are level and on line, lands closed with a fall off finish. Fastball was 74-77, with late sink and a bit of armside run to it. Curveball had some armspeed and was 58-63 with gradual 11/5 break to it.

Top Prospect Games II

Hill is 5-3 with an athletic frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a balanced slightly open stance, leg kick stride on line, loads back and wraps bat. Hips rotate with some violence and he maintains good lower half balance. Short and quick to the ball, stays inside ball and has a strong contact point. Slightly uphill swing path, showed a pull approach with natural loft, exit velocity was 74. In the outfield, velocity was 81. Showed versatility taking balls in the infield where his velocity was 76. On the mound he throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a longer arm action that is free and quick, normal effort to his delivery. Shoulders are uphill and slightly closed, lands open with a fall off finish. Fastball 71-74, touching 76, with some late run to armside. Curveball was 61-63 with some armspeed and gradual 11/5 break, has some shape and a chance to tighten into a good pitch.