Sample Player Profile Page

HILL, KOYIE


Nickname:	N/A	Position:	C
Home:	Lawton, Oklahoma	Team:	Retired
Height:	6' 0"	Bats:	S
Weight:	195	Throws:	R
DOB:	3/9/1979	Agent:	N/A
Birth City:	Tulsa, Oklahoma	Draft:	Dodgers #4 - 2000 - Out of Wichita State Univ.
Uniform #:	N/A		Dodgers #4 - 2000 - Out of Wichita State Univ.

YR	LEA	TEAM	SAL(K)	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	OBP	SLG	AVG
2000	NWL	YAKIMA		64	251	26	65	13	1	2	29	0		25	47			.259
2001	SAL	WILMINGTON		134	498	65	150	20	2	8	79	21		49	82			.301
2002	SL	JACKSONVILLE		130	468	67	127	25	1	11	64	5		76	88			.271
2003	SL	JACKSONVILLE		25	101	9	23	7	0	0	7	2		6	19			.228
2003	PCL	LAS VEGAS		85	312	48	98	18	0	3	36	5		15	39			.314
2003	NL	DODGERS	$300.00	3	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.333	.667	.333
2004	NL	DIAMONDBACKS		13	36	3	9	1	0	1	6	1	0	2	6	.289	.361	.250
2004	PCL	LAS VEGAS		91	350	57	100	26	0	13	54	0		28	69			.286
2005	NL	DIAMONDBACKS	$318.00	34	78	6	17	5	0	0	6	0	1	11	27	.308	.282	.218
2005	PCL	TUCSON		50	168	22	41	9	1	5	26	3		23	37			.244
2006	IL	COLUMBUS		20	70	4	10	2	0	1	5	0	0	5	17	.197	.214	.143
2007	NL	CUBS	$380.00	36	93	7	15	4	0	2	12	0	0	8	18	.231	.269	.161
2007	PCL	IOWA CUBS		47	149	22	48	16	0	2	24	1	1	11	23	.364	.470	.322
2008	NL	CUBS		10	21	0	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	12	.095	.143	.095
2008	PCL	IOWA		113	364	56	100	24	2	17	64	3	2	40	77		.492	.275
2009	NL	CUBS	$475.00	83	253	26	60	12	2	2	24	0	0	27	78	.312	.324	.237
2010	NL	CUBS	$700.00	77	215	18	46	13	1	1	17	1	0	12	61	.254	.298	.214
2011	NL	CUBS	$850.00	46	134	15	26	3	1	2	9	1	0	14	40	.268	.276	.194
2012	NL	CUBS		11	39	3	7	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	7	.179	.205	.179
2012	SL	PENSACOLA		14	41	5	8	3	0	1	5	0	0	3	10	.250	.341	.195
2012	PCL	ROUND ROCK		15	55	4	13	1	0	1	3	0	0	4	16	.300	.309	.236
2012	IL	SYRACUSE		31	104	14	17	1	0	2	9	1	0	9	26	.226	.231	.163
2013	NL	MARLINS		18	58	3	9	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	18	.183	.190	.155
2013	PCL	NEW ORLEANS		60	190	18	45	14	0	1	14	0	0	15	38	.291	.326	.237
2014	NL	PHILLIES		10	21	2	5	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	5	.273	.286	.238
2014	IL	LEHIGH VALLEY		53	176	18	40	11	1	3	17	0	3	28	45	.333	.352	.227

The name Koyie? "My Mom named me. My dad�s name is Kennard, and my older sister is Kassie, with a K. She had heard the name Coy and she liked it. But she wanted it to start with a K. So she did that, and bought a couple of vowels."

And, his teammates, noticing the original name, started calling him "The Koyie" when he was in Double-A with the Dodgers. And it stuck ever since.

How long has Koyie had the vision to play Major League Baseball?

"I came home in first grade and told my mom I don't need to do my homework because I was going to be a pro baseball player," Hill said.
Ryne Sandberg was his favorite player when he was growing up.
In 2000, Hill led the Missouri Valley Conference with 102 hits, batting .391. He was a third baseman at Wichita State.
Dodger scout Mitch Webster signed Hill.
"In the offseason, I used to work building houses for extra money," Koyie recalled.
He is a blue-collar player with a tough approach to the game. He works hard and is an unselfish, team player.
Koyie approaches the game in a professional manner. He works hard and learns quickly. He stands out in the way he hustles. When the game is over, he may not have gotten a hit or an RBI, but you will know that he played in that game. Koyie doesn't just want to be on the field, he wants to make an impact.

"If I can out-tough somebody or out-grit somebody or just out-hustle somebody, I've done a good job," he said. "But I try to be as mentally prepared as possible for what I do."
Hill used to drive a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe. "But I�d rather be driving around in a big, black �56 Chevy."

And now he likes to drive around in his restored 1970 Chevelle.

In the CD changer, Koyie said he had Led Zeppelin, Black Crowes, and Lynrd Skynrd.
Koyie's favorite restaurant on the road in the minors: Cracker Barrel, for their chicken fried steak.
In his spare time, he likes to go to a movie or the beach or anything with his wife, Meghan.
First Major League game he attended: "Nolan Ryan was pitching against the Orioles and Cal Ripken had the first hit, a two-out single in the first down the right-field line. It was in Arlington before they built the new ballpark. I was probably in the sixth grade."

Koyie said playing in his first Major League game, in 2004, he was more thrilled, than overwhelmed. "Even if there are 50,000 people out there, it's the same game as when you were in Little League. You just have to keep the 50,000 people out of your head," he said.
Hill says that if he doesn't go on to be a coach or manager after his playing career, he might go back to school to be an architect.

"They did not offer (that major) at Wichita State, but I was a major league baseball major at school, anyway," Koyie said.
When Johan Santana threw the Mets' first no-hitter on June 1, 2012, catcher Josh Thole was using Koyie Hill's glove.
Here's the story: Hill gave Cubs bullpen catcher Andy Lane one of his All-Star model gloves in 2011. Lane and Thole worked out together this offseason, and Thole liked "The Koyie" so much, he switched with Lane.
Lane exchanged text messages with Thole and found out it was Hill's glove. Hill said he thought he recognized it watching highlights of Santana's game.
"Your stuff looks familiar to you," Hill said.
Hill does have a no-hitter to his credit, catching lefty Lindsay Gulin's no-no at Triple-A in 2004.

TRANSACTION REPORT
June 2000: The Dodgers chose Hill in the 4th round, out of Wichita State University.
July 31, 2004: The Diamondbacks sent OF Steve Finley and C Brent Mayne to the Dodgers, acquiring Hill, P Bill Murphy, and OF Reggie Abercrombie.
April 6, 2006: The Yankees claimed Hill off waivers from the D'Backs.
December 2006: Koyie signed with the Cubs organization.
January 19, 2010: Hill and the Cubs avoided arbitration, agreeing to an $800,000 contract for 2010.
January 12, 2011: Koyie and the Cubs again avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, $850,000 contract for 2011.
December 12, 2011: The Cubs did not tender Hill a contract for 2012, making him a free agent.
January 12, 2012: Koyie signed with the Cardinals organization.
March 25, 2012: The Cards released Hill.
April 28, 2012: Hill signed with the Reds organization.
May 19, 2012: The Cubs acquired Koyie from the Reds, for cash considerations.
June 19, 2012: Hill signed with the Nationals organization.
August 3, 2012: Hill was released by the Nationals organization.

August14, 2012: Koyie signed with the Rangers organization.
October 7, 2013: Hill chose to become a free agent.
February 5, 2014: The Nationals signed Koyie to a Minor League contract that includes an invitation to Major League Spring Training.
March 17, 2014:The Phillies acquired Hill from the Nationals in exchange for cash or a player to be named later.

PERSONAL:

Koyie is a fine switch-hitting catcher (a rarity) who can put the bat on the ball. He has a quick, level line-drive stroke and enough power that he should hit 15-20 homers a year. And he has the plate discipline and patience to draw walks.

Hill drives the ball better from the left side of the plate. But he has power to the alleys from both sides.
Sometimes, Hill seems more adept at hitting breaking pitches than fastballs.
Koyie displays good plate discipline.
As of the start of the 2014 season, Hill's career Major League stats were: .206 batting average, 8 home runs with 76 RBI's in 930 at-bats.

BATTING:

Koyie has a real feel for the game. Dodgers farm director Jerry Weinstein says, "He has a nurturing peronality for the pitchers." He handles a pitching staff well. Being a catcher fits Hill's personality.

It is his mental toughness that allowed Koyie to switch from 3rd base to catcher when he was an All American at Wichita State.

He also has soft hands. His arm is only average, but he makes up for any lack of strength with his footwork and a quick transfer from glove to hand, followed by a quick release. His throws are very accurate. And Hill argues with those who say his arm is just average. "I had a throw timed at 96 (mph) when I was playing 3rd in college (at Wichita State). But I've had to learn a new way of throwing as a catcher, so I can't always get everything into it yet."
Most impressive in moving from third base to catcher has been Hill�s instincts in dealing with pitchers and their comfort level with him. The soft hands from his days as an infielder make him an excellent receiver.
Koyie says, "Catching is a blast. The toughest thing is the everyday grind, the mental grind of it. Then you have to get on the bus, and your knees are up to here (flexing his thigh to his chest). I might need to start drinking WD-40."
In 2002, Hill threw out 33 percent of attempting basestealers in the Southern League.
Diamondbacks Manager Al Pedrique is impressed with the catching skills Koyie has. "I like his style of playing," Pedrique said. "He's a hard-nosed player. Behind the plate he receives well, blocks well, and he has a good idea about calling the game. Offensively he's going to help us. He's a switch-hitter, he's got some power, and for a catcher, he runs well. Seems like a nice kid, too." (August, 2004)

FIELDING:

Hill has the speed to steal 20 bases a year�incredible for a catcher. (Editor's note: From 2004 to August 2009, in parts of six Major League season, he had one total stolen base.)

RUNNING:

November 2002: Koyie injured his knee late in the Arizona Fall League, but X-rays showed no real damage.

August 18, 2004: Hill was on the D.L. with a fractured right ankle. He was injured in a collision at home plate with the Pirates' Ty Wigginton. It ended Koyie's season.

Wigginton sought out Hill the next day. "He just wanted to say he was sorry about me getting injured," Hill said. "But I think we both agreed that it was about as fair a play as you could have. I was going to make him come right through me and he did."

The fact that Hill stayed in the game after the injury to finish the inning�which included his participation in a rundown�impressed his teammates. But some were upset that Wigginton so aggressively pursued contact when attempting to score in the fourth inning that night, or that Hill so steadfastly stood his ground, don't count Pedrique among them.
"[Hill] did the right thing," Pedrique said. "That's part of the game. He was doing his job, and the runner was doing his and that's just one of those things. That's the way the game is played, the way it's supposed to be played. Again it was clean slide, and it's too bad Hill ended up with the worst part of it."

Koyie had surgery on the ankle August 27, 2004. Screws were inserted to hold together the tibia and fibula bones in his ankle, as well as to keep the membrane that sits between the two bones in place. The screws are dissolvable, so no further surgery was required to remove them.
2006: Hill missed almost all of the season after undergoing Tommy John ligament transplant surgery on his right elbow.
October 16, 2007: Koyie severed two fingers on his right hand in a table saw/carpentry accident during the off-season before 2008 spring training. Surgeons reattached the right thumb and three fingers on his right hand.

Hill, an aspiring architect, was making a window frame for his house. The table saw he was using got stuck in the wood and managed to cut through his thumb, his pinky finger, ring finger and middle finger, leaving him bloodied and obviously in severe pain.
Hill was eventually taken to the emergency room, and a hand specialist was called upon to reattach the fingers.

"Catching is easy,� Hill said. "Thank God it wasn�t my left hand. They added enough bones to my middle finger to where it moves some. They had me hold a ball in my left hand to see where my finger was placed so when they sewed it back on it was fixed in a position. So you could say it was actually built for playing baseball now, which is something a baseball player always wanted. Now, the hand is as good, or a little better.� (Paul Sullivan-Chicago Tribune-9/02/08)
August 16, 2014: Koyie was on the D.L with a right shin contusion.

CAREER INJURY REPORT: