Labeled a ‘dynamic talent’ out of Elk Grove H.S. (CA), Derek Hill surfaced as the Tigers’ first round selection in the 2014 MLB Draft, the first outfielder chosen by Detroit sinceCameron Maybin entered as the 10^th-round pick for the Tigers in 2005.

A lean 6’2”, 195-pound build fits the bill for an outfield blueprint , though his listed weight may be a bit generous. In addition to the ability to pull an occasional Willie Mays-style basket catch in his usual center field post, one of Hill’s most buzzed about attributes is his elite speed, and it plays up on both offense and defense. Hill clocks speeds as low as 3.9 seconds from HP-to-1B, and with type of gap pop he has in his swing, the combination gives him a shot of being an everyday hitter at the major league level, despite lack of HR power. Defensively, Hill has been clocked in the middle 90s throwing in from center field, and shows plus range and quick footwork that should make him a legitimate impact defender.

One hurdle for evaluating Hill during his first full season of pro ball last year was just staying healthy. Hill made three trips to the disabled list dealing with a nagging quad injury, limiting him to just 53 games with Class A West Michigan in 2015. Despite the setback, Hill managed to steal 25 bases over his 53 games, concluding the year with a .238/.305/.314 slash line, with six doubles, five triples and 16 RBIs for the Whitecaps.

Entering 2016, we are seeing the long-awaited healthy version of the 20 year old, finally allowing a glimpse of what Detroit first saw in him out of high school. Displaying a more patient, relaxed stance at the plate, Hill has experienced a dip in his overall ISO, dropping from .076 in 2015, down to .062 this season. While he may bulk up in the coming years, Hill’s value will shine through the speed that allows him endless opportunities to stretch what would normally be a single into easy extra bases.

Hill is leading West Michigan with 42 runs and 19 stolen bases, all while hitting .268/.326/.348 and adding a .647 OPS. His current production is slowly but surely giving the Tigers a clearer picture of what they can expect from their speedy outfielder moving forward.