Hill snags AL Comeback Player award

Published online on Monday, Oct. 05, 2009

Redwood High product Aaron Hill won the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award on Monday.

The Toronto Blue Jays second baseman -- limited to 55 games in 2008 due to the lingering effects of a concussion -- established career bests in home runs and RBIs to beat out Boston Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez and Minnesota Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer for the award, voted on by 30 mlb.com beat writers.

"I really did want to prove everybody, not wrong, but just know that I could be back and I'm fine," Hill said during a conference call. "That was the main goal. That was really the only goal this year."

In 158 games this season, Hill finished with a .286 average, 36 home runs, 37 doubles and 108 RBIs. He also racked up 195 hits, 103 runs and 340 total bases along the way. Among major league second basemen, Hill ranked first in home runs, RBIs, total bases and at-bats (682).

"I think the coolest one is the home runs," said Hill, who started in the All-Star Game and was an AL representative in the Home Run Derby.

Hill also gave the Blue Jays an elite defender in the field. Among all major league second baseman, he ranked first with 798 total chances, 484 assists and 129 double plays, finishing the season with just seven errors and a .991 fielding percentage.

On May 29 of last year, Hill was chasing down a flyball in shallow center field in Oakland, where he collided with former Blue Jays shortstop David Eckstein. Hill -- struck on the side of the head by Eckstein's right elbow -- missed the rest of the season and was plagued for months by headaches, sleepless nights and dizzy spells.

Chris Carpenter was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year. Limited to four starts over the prior two seasons because of elbow surgery and a shoulder injury, Carpenter was 17-4 with a league-leading 2.24 ERA for the St. Louis Cardinals.