SF Giants call up undrafted prospect with 26-game hitting streak at Triple-A

SAN FRANCISCO — Turner Hill has not walked the conventional path. He described being undersized in high school. He was a walk-on at his first college, a Division II school. His second college was a Division III. He went undrafted.

Now, he’s a major leaguer.

The Giants announced on Friday that they’ve promoted Hill, a 27-year-old outfielder who was in the middle of a franchise-record 26-game hitting streak with Triple-A Sacramento.

“It’s definitely been unconventional, for sure, but I think it just makes it all that more sweet,” Hill said.

Additionally, the team has recalled fellow outfielder Jonah Cox and optioned outfielder Grant McCray and infielder Nate Furman to Sacramento. Third baseman Matt Chapman, who underwent season-ending surgery earlier this week, went on the 60-day injured list, opening up a spot on the 40-man roster for Hill.

“I think it’s a proper reward for what he’s been doing,” said manager Tony Vitello of Hill. “There’s certainly a lot of curiosity out of everybody in the building for what he can do at this level. You saw some adjustability at the plate to hit a bunch of different types of pitches, especially off right-handed pitching. I don’t see any reason why that can’t translate to here, but the best thing to do is give him an opportunity and find out.”

Hill signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent after walking on and spending three years at Division II Malone University, then transferring to Division III Marietta College. He was originally going to play independent ball for the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League before being signed by the Giants.

“I was a late bloomer,” said Hill, who estimated he was around 5-foot-7, 140 pounds as a high school junior. “In high school, it was hard for me to get college scouts to take a look at me because I was so undersized, but I always felt like I had the skills to be able to play the game, just needed some opportunities.”

Hill, who found out he was being promoted midway through Wednesday’s game, hit .352/.426/.530 with nine home runs and 23 steals over 88 games with Sacramento. On Tuesday, Hill homered to pass Daric Barton for the longest hitting streak in Sacramento River Cats history.

Hill’s most impressive skill is his ability to make contact and minimize whiffs. Among all qualified hitters in the Pacific Coast League, no one had a lower strikeout rate than Hill’s 8.5 percent. Hill also ranked in the 99th percentile of whiff rate, as well as the 98th percentile of in-zone contact rate.

“It’s just the style that I’ve always hit with. … I’ve always kind of been the undersized guy, so that’s kind of been the thing I’ve had to do for success is just be able to get the bat on the ball,” Hill said.

Cox, 25, spent roughly a month recovering from a left oblique strain that he sustained in early July. He began a rehab assignment on July 29, then was reinstated from the injured list and optioned to Triple-A on Aug. 4. Cox hasn’t missed a beat since returning from injury, hitting .468/.519/.660 over his last 11 games with the River Cats.

Cox, who grew up a fan of Dodgers utilityman Chris Taylor, is a primary outfielder but has impressed during his brief time at second base, making several difficult plays up the middle. While Cox is capable of bouncing around and has shortstop experience dating back to college, Vitello said the focal point for Cox will be center field.

Adames diagnosed with back strain

Shortstop Willy Adames, who left Wednesday’s game early due to back spasms, underwent an MRI on Thursday that revealed a low back strain. The Giants said he is day-to-day.

“They graded it as level one,” Vitello said. “The medical terms are one thing, and then the next thing is how does your body feel? I think he feels OK, but he kind of feels the same as he was. It’s labeled day-to-day. I certainly think the time between when he came out of the game and now has benefited him. We’ll just kind of have to see how things are.”

Vitello said he believes Adames, who has been bothered by his back for months, will play again this season. The Giants have talked with Adames about placing him on the injured list, but Adames remains on the active roster.

“That’s something he would fight, for sure,” Vitello said. “It’s not something we’re going to press for as coaches. I don’t think we’re at a point in the season where we want to put him in a position that doesn’t set anyone up for success in the future or benefit him. If he’s healthy, he’s going to want to play. If he’s cleared by everybody, we’ll put him in a position to play.

“But again, I think for now, it’s just a little bit of day-to-day. A lot of it is going to be communication between him and those guys on how it actually feels internally.”