Darius Hill started the 2022 season with Double-A Tennessee, where he hit .308 (57-for-185) in 44 games. His high level of hitting got him promoted to Iowa on May 31, making his debut that day against St. Paul.
Manager Marty Pevey slotted Hill into the leadoff spot and Hill didn’t waste any time proving he belonged, clubbing a leadoff home run on the first pitch he saw at Triple-A.
The outfielder ended the year hitting .318 (109-for-343) in 89 games with Iowa, leading the team with 32 multi-hit performances. He had hitting streaks of 10, 11 and a season-long 12-game streak from July 15-August 5.
He was tied for first among all of Minor League Baseball in hits with 166 between his time with Tennessee and Iowa, recording the most hits for a Cubs minor league player since DJ Lemahieu had 174 hits for Single-A Daytona in 2010.
Hill said it was a long season and he had a lot of fun, but that he had a great off season getting to rest and spend time with family.
“You have to take a look back and appreciate what you were able to do because you set goals and when you accomplish some of them it feels really good,” he said.
Despite having that time to reflect and acknowledge his accomplishments with Tennessee and Iowa in 2022, Hill said that he is now ready to get going and move on.
“2022 doesn’t mean anything for this season,” Hill said. “Now it’s time to set new goals and expectations and get after them.”
Although he hasn’t gotten the opportunity to play every day yet this year, he has made his limited opportunity worth it, hitting .333 (4-for-12) in his first four games of the year.
He said part of the reflecting on last year is also setting new goals for this year, and some of those are just to build on his success from 2022.
“You never want to say you want to do the same thing the year before, but there are definitely certain things that I would love to repeat,” he said.
In his four games this year he has already contributed with some big hits, knocking a two-run go-ahead single with the bases loaded and two outs to give Iowa one of their six wins.
Improving on the success he had in 2022 and making the next step to the big leagues is the main focus for the 25-year-old this year.
“Anything I can do to get myself to the major leagues and help that ball club anyway that I can is something I want to strive to do this year.”
Hill said his skill set is a unique one and that Pevey has an appreciation for his game that maybe not every coach in baseball has anymore, so he is excited to continue growing in 2023.