Biographical

Portrait of Shea Hillenbrand

Shea Hillenbrand 3BBlue Jays

Blue Jays Player Cards | Blue Jays Team Audit | Blue Jays Depth Chart

Career Summary
Years PA AVG OBP SLG DRC+ WARP
12 3816 .284 .321 .440 94 4.7
Birth Date7-27-1975
Height6' 1"
Weight210 lbs
Age48 years, 8 months, 2 days
BatsR
ThrowsR
WARP Summary

MLB Statistics

YEAR TEAM AGE G PA H 2B 3B HR BB SO HBP SB CS AVG OBP SLG DRC+ DRAA BRR FRAA BWARP
2001 BOS 25 139 493 123 20 2 12 13 61 7 3 4 .263 .291 .391 77 -12.3 -1.2 -3.2 0.0
2002 BOS 26 156 676 186 43 4 18 25 95 12 4 2 .293 .330 .459 100 3.3 0.5 0.4 2.7
2003 ARI 27 85 354 88 18 1 17 17 44 2 0 0 .267 .302 .482 97 -0.2 -0.5 -7.8 -0.3
2003 BOS 27 49 200 56 17 0 3 7 26 4 1 0 .303 .335 .443 92 -1.3 0.7 -2.2 0.2
2004 ARI 28 148 604 174 36 3 15 24 49 12 2 0 .310 .348 .464 105 4.6 1.5 -4.6 0.9
2005 TOR 29 152 645 173 36 2 18 26 79 22 5 1 .291 .343 .449 103 2.9 4.6 -3.9 1.5
2006 SFN 30 60 247 58 12 0 9 7 40 3 0 0 .248 .275 .415 90 -2.0 -0.5 1.6 0.2
2006 TOR 30 81 319 89 15 1 12 14 40 6 1 2 .301 .342 .480 92 -1.8 -0.2 -1.7 0.1
2007 ANA 31 53 204 50 5 0 3 5 18 1 0 2 .254 .275 .325 65 -8.2 0.5 -0.4 -0.6
2007 LAN 31 20 74 17 0 2 1 2 12 0 0 1 .243 .257 .343 65 -3.0 0.9 -0.7 0.0
Career9433816101420215108140464691612.284.321.44094-18.06.4-22.54.7

Statistics for All Levels

'opp' stats - Quality of opponents faced - have been moved and are available only as OPP_QUAL in the Statistics reports now.
Minor league stats are currently shownClick to hide.
YEAR Team Lg LG G PA oppAVG oppOBP oppSLG BABIP BPF BRAA repLVL POS_ADJ DRC+ DRC+ SD FRAA BRR DRAA BWARP
1996 LOW A- NYP 72 307 .000 .000 .000 .351 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
1997 MIC A MDW 0 234 .000 .000 .000 .308 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
1997 SAR A+ FSL 0 229 .000 .000 .000 .333 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
1998 MIC A MDW 0 527 .000 .000 .000 .360 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
1999 TRN AA EAS 0 299 .000 .000 .000 .266 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2000 TRN AA EAS 0 556 .000 .000 .000 .334 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2001 BOS MLB AL 139 493 .266 .332 .428 .278 96 -8.8 14.7 1.5 77 8 -3.2 -1.2 -12.3 0.0
2002 BOS MLB AL 156 676 .269 .336 .433 .319 97 15.4 19.5 2.7 100 10 0.4 0.5 3.3 2.7
2003 ARI MLB NL 85 354 .261 .329 .416 .259 104 0.3 9.3 -3.7 97 9 -7.8 -0.5 -0.2 -0.3
2003 BOS MLB AL 49 200 .276 .337 .443 .331 106 0.3 5.5 -1.1 92 9 -2.2 0.7 -1.3 0.2
2003 TUC AAA PCL 3 10 .000 .000 .000 .333 0.0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2004 ARI MLB NL 148 604 .264 .329 .425 .315 100 10.8 18.0 -10.1 105 11 -4.6 1.5 4.6 0.9
2005 TOR MLB AL 152 645 .267 .331 .422 .310 104 4.6 18.6 -6.9 103 7 -3.9 4.6 2.9 1.5
2006 SFN MLB NL 60 247 .264 .325 .428 .261 91 -6.7 7.4 -4.2 90 10 1.6 -0.5 -2.0 0.2
2006 TOR MLB AL 81 319 .275 .341 .434 .312 108 0.9 9.6 -4.7 92 10 -1.7 -0.2 -1.8 0.1
2007 ANA MLB AL 53 204 .278 .342 .434 .266 101 -10.7 6.1 -3.8 65 9 -0.4 0.5 -8.2 -0.6
2007 LAN MLB NL 20 74 .256 .327 .415 .271 98 -6.1 2.2 0.3 65 10 -0.7 0.9 -3.0 0.0
2007 LVG AAA PCL 3 13 .272 .334 .421 .667 121 2.1 0.4 -0.2 83 0 -0.2 0.3 -0.7 0.0
2007 POR AAA PCL 9 35 .260 .326 .414 .167 93 -5.2 1.1 0.1 74 0 -0.6 -0.2 -1.3 -0.1

Statistics For All Levels

Minor league stats are currently shownClick to hide.
Year Team lvl LG PA AB R H 2B 3B HR TB RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG ISO SF SH
1996 LOW A- NYP 307 279 33 88 18 2 2 116 38 18 32 4 3 .315 .374 .416 .100 0 0
1997 MIC A MDW 234 224 28 65 13 3 3 93 39 9 20 1 3 .290 .321 .415 .125 0 0
1997 SAR A+ FSL 229 220 25 65 12 0 2 83 28 7 29 9 8 .295 .323 .377 .082 0 0
1998 MIC A MDW 527 498 80 174 33 4 19 272 92 19 49 13 7 .349 .385 .546 .197 0 0
1999 TRN AA EAS 299 282 41 73 15 0 7 109 36 14 27 6 5 .259 .301 .387 .128 0 0
2000 TRN AA EAS 556 529 77 171 35 3 11 245 79 19 39 3 3 .323 .356 .463 .140 0 0
2001 BOS MLB AL 493 468 52 123 20 2 12 183 49 13 61 3 4 .263 .291 .391 .128 4 1
2002 BOS MLB AL 676 634 94 186 43 4 18 291 83 25 95 4 2 .293 .330 .459 .166 5 0
2003 ARI MLB NL 354 330 40 88 18 1 17 159 59 17 44 0 0 .267 .302 .482 .215 5 0
2003 BOS MLB AL 200 185 20 56 17 0 3 82 38 7 26 1 0 .303 .335 .443 .141 4 0
2003 TUC AAA PCL 10 10 0 3 1 0 0 4 1 0 1 0 0 .300 .300 .400 .100 0 0
2004 ARI MLB NL 604 562 68 174 36 3 15 261 80 24 49 2 0 .310 .348 .464 .155 6 0
2005 TOR MLB AL 645 594 91 173 36 2 18 267 82 26 79 5 1 .291 .343 .449 .158 3 0
2006 TOR MLB AL 319 296 40 89 15 1 12 142 39 14 40 1 2 .301 .342 .480 .179 3 0
2006 SFN MLB NL 247 234 33 58 12 0 9 97 29 7 40 0 0 .248 .275 .415 .167 3 0
2007 LAN MLB NL 74 70 6 17 0 2 1 24 9 2 12 0 1 .243 .257 .343 .100 2 0
2007 LVG AAA PCL 13 13 3 7 1 0 1 11 4 0 3 0 0 .538 .538 .846 .308 0 0
2007 POR AAA PCL 35 34 2 5 1 0 0 6 1 1 4 0 0 .147 .171 .176 .029 0 0
2007 ANA MLB AL 204 197 19 50 5 0 3 64 22 5 18 0 2 .254 .275 .325 .071 1 0

Plate Discipline

YEAR Pits Zone% Swing% Contact% Z-Swing% O-Swing% Z-Contact% O-Contact% SwStr% CSAA

Injury History  —  No longer being updated

Last Update: 12/31/2014 23:59 ET

Date On Date Off Transaction Days Games Side Body Part Injury Severity Surgery Date Reaggravation
2003-06-09 2003-06-30 15-DL 21 17 Left Abdomen Strain Oblique -
1999-09-01 1999-10-19 60-DL 48 30 Right Knee Recovery From Surgery ACL 1999-07-22 -
1999-07-05 1999-09-01 Minors 58 0 Right Knee Surgery ACL 1999-07-22 -

Compensation

Year Team Salary
2007 ANA $6,500,000
2006 TOR $5,800,000
2005 TOR $3,870,000
2004 ARI $2,600,000
2003 BOS, ARI $407,500
2002 BOS $260,000
2001 BOS $200,000
YearsDescriptionSalary
7 yrPrevious$19,637,500
7 yrTotal$19,637,500

 

Service TimeAgentContract Status
7 y 23 dAdam Katz1 yr/$6.5M (07)+$6.5M 08 cl opt

Details
  • FA after refused sent outright to 10/12/07 contract purchased 8/13/07
  • signed as a free agent from SD 8/11/07 (minor-league contract)
  • signed as a free agent from LAA 7/27/07 (minor-league contract)
  • released 7/9/07
  • designated for assignment 6/29/07
  • signed as a free agent from SF 12/06, 1 year/$6.5M (07)+$6.5M 08 club option, 07:$6M, 08:$6.5M club option (vest with 600 plate appearances 07) $0.5M buyout
  • acquired in trade from TOR 7/06 designated for assignment 7/06 avoided arbitration 2/06 ($6.7M-$5M), 1 year/$5.8M (06)+$50K ($25K each 610,635 plate appearances)
  • avoided arbitration 1/05, 1 year/$3.87M (05) ($4.35M-$3.45M)
  • acquired in trade from AZ 1/05
  • re-signed 2/04, 1 year/$2.6M (04) (avoided arbitration, $2.875M-$2.4M)
  • acquired in trade from BOS 5/03 1 year/$0.4075M (03) 3/03
  • 1 year/$0.26M (02) 3/02

2019 Preseason Forecast

Last Update: 1/27/2017 12:35 ET

PCT PA R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG DRC+ VORP FRAA WARP
Weighted Mean???????00??.000.000.00000.0?0.0

Comparable Players (Similarity Index )

Rank Score Name Year DRC+ Trend

BP Annual Player Comments

YearComment
2008 After failing to make good on a one-year deal with the Angels, Shea Hillenbrand bounced through the Padres system to the Dodgers, but hit nowhere. Beyond synthesizing carbon dioxide so that somewhere a tree may grow, it's unclear what value he provides, and it's probably not worth the headache to find out.
2007 The Giants were desperate for a first baseman in mid-summer, and, lo and behold, a dilly of a fight in Toronto dropped a first baseman in their lap. Unfortunately, whether it was due to the after-effects of his hurt feelings or the gamma rays that bathed everyone who tried to play first for the Giants last year, Hillenbrand stopped hitting when he got to the NL, so they were no better off with him than they had been without him. He decided to return to the AL in the off-season, signing a deal with the Angels, who were just as desperate for a first baseman--the Giants and Angels ranked 29th and 30th in first base EqA last year. Hillenbrand`s lack of power and patience make him an impediment to his team if he hits under .300. If you happen to run into him, try to break the news gently; fiercely proud and a bit obtuse, he thinks he`s something of a star.
2006 Hillenbrand is the kind of player that deceives mediocre teams into thinking they`re getting acceptable production from a key offensive position. In three of the past four seasons Hillenbrand started off hot only to regress to .280/.320/.430 for the rest of the season. Only the Red Sox took advantage of Hillenbrand`s batting average-inflated line by trading him at the peak of his value. Now that the Jays have brought in Lyle Overbay, Hillenbrand may be dealt by the time you read this--but hopefully not to a team looking for a third baseman. Being able to stand near third base might raise Hillenbrand`s value, but he`s never been a slick fielder at the hot corner.
2005 Just doesn't walk, and right off the bat, that means two things. One, you're not going to be a great player, and two, you're probably going to be overrated and overpaid. Hillenbrand's been largely crowded out since the acquisition of Troy Glaus, so he may be moved to some team that overrates batting average. As long as he stays at third, he's a .260-.270 EqA guy with some value; otherwise he's a Pedro Feliz type best used as a utility man.
2004 Hillenbrand isn't a star, but he liked hitting in the BOB, and as the fourth wheel in the new lineup featuring Richie Sexson, he'll probably set a career-high in RBI in 2004. He's still a mediocrity, and he's a defensive liability in an infield that doesn't have any glove men. He'll be useful, and he'll build up a Vinny Castilla sort of reputation as a "run producer" that might make him a wildly overpaid Tiger someday.
2003 Can he hit or not? Last year, we declared Hillenbrand to be a “total waste of the Red Sox’ time.” Unfazed, Shea did a passable imitation of an All-Star in April and May, earning him an invitation to the game. From June onward, he hit only 8 HR with 14 BB. The Sox can probably count on a .290 batting average, but without the secondary contributions you would normally expect from a corner infielder or that he gave them during his brief flirtation with excellence. Hillenbrand’s defense at the hot corner has improved, but is still no better than average.
2002 April: .343/.356/.515. Everything after: .241/.274/.363. Once word got around that Hillenbrand would swing at curveballs in the dirt, he got very little to hit the rest of the way. Outside of a three-walk day versus the Phillies (including one intentional walk), he drew seven unintentional walks in 390 plate appearances after May 1. He’s also a butcher at third base and in three years has made no progress with his plate discipline. Hillenbrand plays hard but is a total waste of the Red Sox’ time.

BP Articles

Click here to see articles tagged with Shea Hillenbrand

BP Chats

DateQuestionAnswer
2009-07-21 13:00:00 (link to chat)A couple of questions about your interviews. Who's the nicest, genuinely nicest person you've interviewed? Who has been the most surprisingly candid with you? I enjoy your interviews, but sometimes the subject is well-skilled in not revealing anything or offending anyone. Thanks.
(GrinnellSteve from Iowa)
Far too many players are well-skilled in not revealing much, which is no big surprise given that they are often schooled to do so. The nicest person? That is difficult to answer. I will say that the most recent Q&A to go up, Cody Ross, is probably on the short list.

The most candid is also a difficult question. Off the top of my head, maybe Shea Hillenbrand? (David Laurila)


BP Roundtables

No BP Roundtables have mentioned this guy.

 

PITCHf/x Hitter Profile

A Collaboration between BrooksBaseball.net and Baseball Prospectus - Pitch classifications provided by Pitch Info LLC