Detroit Tigers: Derek Hill faced with more adversity as surgery rumors loom

The Detroit Tigers have announced that Derek Hill may need surgery as it has not been ruled out, according to the Detroit Free Press. The article said that the team is still running tests and getting other opinions before taking action and moving forward.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Derek Hill has not had the smoothest road to the big leagues, and it seems like he’ll have another chance to battle through some adversity. Last weekend, Hill made an awkward move after crossing the bag and first and ended up falling hard.

After coming out of the game, it was concluded that he had a left knee sprain, but it seems like there may be some second opinions on the way. As was mentioned, surgery is not ruled out, which could really put a damper on things for him, even with the offseason on the horizon.

Hill, a first-round pick from the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft, has certainly had some adversity on his way to the big leagues. It took him all of six years after being drafted to earn a shot in the big leagues finally. At one point, it seemed like he was even going to be nothing but a bust.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Derek Hill may be facing some adversity once again.

The thing I want to point out from the Detroit Free Press article that was linked above is actually the headline. It mentions that he is “rolling with the punches.” He’s dealt with the inability to hit in the minor leagues in levels as low as rookie ball when he first got into the organization.

But, after some slow and steady progression, he pushed through it and was able to keep advancing. The six-year gap between being drafted and making the big leagues was a long one, but he did make adjustments and battle through adversity to get here.

While his glove is far superior to his bat, the hope is that his bat can come around in due time. Not to mention that Hill has had some injury issues as it is during his time with the Tigers, so this is just another time when Hill will face a challenge.

This time the challenge is that he is unlikely to suit up again in 2021, and uncertainty is looming. He played 49 games for the Tigers in 2021, where he slashed .259/.313/.388 with nine extra-base hits and 14 RBI total. Now, it seems like even if he does not need surgery, he is going to miss some time.

Regardless of what happens, hopefully, Hill can regroup and reset this offseason and come back in 2022 looking to claim a spot in the Tigers outfield or at least get even more looks and build upon the last two seasons.

As was mentioned, the glove is there, and it’s known. It will be a matter of getting him more at-bats and hoping that he can figure things out at the plate in the big leagues and earn his role as a defensively-minded outfielder for the Tigers.