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Hillman Skippers Clippers For Third Voyage

Columbus - 02.27.01 - Trey Hillman is back at the helm of the Clippers in his third season with the club. In 2000, he navigated Columbus to a 75-69 record and second place in the IL West.

The 1999 season was his Triple-A managerial debut. In that year, Trey led the Clippers to a league-best 83-58 record and the West Division Crown. Hillman’s two years in Triple-A have been filled with personal accolades including coaching in last summer’s Triple-A All-Star Game and 1999’s All-Star Futures Game and being selected as the “Best
Managerial Prospect” in the IL by Baseball America in 2000.

Before coming to Columbus, the 38-year-old spent the prior two seasons with the Norwich Navigators of the Double-A Eastern League.

Hillman lead the Navigators to a post-season berth and a 73-69 record in 1997. His ‘98 club finished 66-76, only the second sub-.500 mark in Hillman’s managerial career.

In 1996, the Amarillo, Texas native led Tampa to the best record (84-50) in the Class A Florida State League, earning FSL Manager-of-the-Year honors along with being chosen Class A Manager-of-the-Year by Baseball America. Hillman’s only post-season championship came in his rookie managerial season in 1990 when he led the Oneonta Yankees to a 52-26 record (.667) and the New York-Penn League (short season Class A)
title.

That year, Trey earned League Manager-of-the-Year honors in recognition of his efforts and those of the club. Other managerial stops in Hillman’s career have included two stints with Greensboro of the South Atlantic League (‘91-92, ‘94-95) and Prince William (Carolina League) in 1993. Prior to becoming a manager, the St. Petersburg, Florida resident spent one season as a coach for Prince William and two seasons as a scout for the Cleveland Indians.

Signed by Cleveland in 1985 after three seasons at the University of Texas-Arlington, he played in the organization’s system for two years before moving into the scouting role. In
eleven managerial seasons, Hillman has compiled a career record of 788-704 (.528), with a 158-127 (.554) mark in Triple-A.