Shawn Hill
From BR Bullpen
Shawn Richard Hill
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 185 lb.
[edit] Biographical Information
Shawn Hill pitched for Team Canada in the 2004 Summer Olympics shortly after making his Major League debut with the Montreal Expos. He had been selected by the Expos in the 6th round of the 2000 amateur draft and moved to the top prospect ranks within the organization with two outstanding seasons in the minor leagues in 2002 and 2003. In 2002, playing for the Clinton Lumber Kings of the Midwest League, he went 12-7, 3.44 in 27 starts, then with Brevard County and Harrisburg the next season, he was 12-5, 2.69.
Hill's career was derailed by a number of injuries. He underwent Tommy John surgery for the first time in the fall of 2004. As a result, he did not pitch at all in 2005 and missed half of 2006. He returned to the majors with the Washington Nationals late in 2006 - the Expos had moved to Washington, DC while he was out of action - and in 2007 pitched very well for the Nats, going 4-5 with a solid 3.42 ERA in 16 starts before arm woes got to him again. He underwent two surgeries that offseason, one on the labrum of his left shoulder, and the second on a nerve in his right forearm. He made 12 starts in 2008, but again had to have surgery at the end of the year, this time to remove bone spurs in his pitching arm.
Hill was released by the Nationals in spring training of 2009, but caught on with the San Diego Padres. He made three starts for the Padres, going 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA before being shut down and undergoing a second Tommy John surgery in June. After the season he signed a minor league deal with his hometown Toronto Blue Jays - he was born and grew up in suburban Mississauga, ON - and received an invitation to spring training.
He joined Team Canada again for the 2011 Baseball World Cup, notably tossing five scoreless innings to help Canada defeat Japan 3-1 on October 3rd. Even more impressive, he allowed one run in 6 1/3 IP to beat Team USA six days later; the only run came on a homer by Matt Clark. He started against Cuba with a trip to the Gold Medal game on the line, but got pummeled in a loss.
