Even though the Tigers went 0-2 at the College World Series, shortstop Aaron Hill ended his season on a high note.
After being named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, Hill was named first-team All-American by Baseball America. He is the ninth Tiger to receive the honor since Baseball America began the recognition in 1981.
Hill, a Visalia, Calif., native, also was selected as a first-round draft pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in the Major League Baseball draft June 3.
The Advocate reported Hill signed a $1.675 million contract Wednesday. Hill left Thursday for Auburn, N.Y. to join the Blue Jay’s Single-A team, according to LSU sports information.
“It’s exciting,” Hill told the Advocate. “I know I’ve got a big smile on my face knowing I’m getting to live out my dream. But it’s hard after losing (in the CWS) because I thought we had a really good team.”
The Advocate also reported Hill’s contract allotted him $20,000 to finish college, and he is planning on graduating from LSU.
“They came straight at me,” Hill said in a conference call with MLB.com on Wednesday. “I told them before they even drafted me: ‘I want to get out and play. I’m not going to sit out all summer.’ I think they had a lot of respect for that. They came at me with a fair number. We agreed on it. There wasn’t really any negotiations.”
In two games with the Auburn Doubledays, Hill is batting .286. In seven at bats he’s had two hits, two strikeouts, and one RBI.
“I wasn’t surprised he got drafted so high,” said Hill’s former teammate Lane Mestepay.
Mestepay said he played with Hill in summer leagues as well as at LSU. He was surprised Hill even attended college because of his abilities and the fact that he was drafted out of high school.
Mestepay wasn’t surprised Hill decided to forgo his senior year.
“If you’re in the top five rounds, you can’t turn down that kind of money,” Mestepay said.
Hill, a member of the 2002 silver medal U.S. National Team, told MLB.com he does not mind playing various positions.
“I’m going to fit wherever they want me to fit,” he said.
As a Tiger, Hill played left field, second-base and shortstop. He was also expected to play third at the beginning of the 2003 season, but because of an injury to shortstop Matt Horwath, Hill remained at the shortstop position.
Hill finished the 2003 season with the highest batting average on the team, .358. He posted 68 runs on 95 hits with 27 doubles, four triples and nine home runs. He also knocked in 67 RBIs for the Tigers.
“He had a superb year,” said Bill Franques, director of sports information for baseball. “The way he grew into a leader really defined his year and the team’s year. He developed into the unofficial team captain. He grew and matured into a player the other players could look up to.”
Four Tiger pitchers also were drafted in the 2003 MLB draft. Juniors Billy Sadler and Brian Wilson were both drafted by the San Francisco Giants. Sadler was drafted in the sixth round while Wilson went in the 24th.
Also drafted were seniors Bo Pettit and Jake Tompkins, in the 29th and 32nd rounds, respectively. Pettit was drafted by the Minnesota Twins, who drafted him last season in the 13th round. Tompkins went to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Tigers finished the season 45-22-1.