*This content was translated by AI.
"It doesn't make sense that you can't do this like this. Remember how good a player you are."
Every time he struggled, his father did not doubt his son's abilities but instead instilled confidence in him. Now, at 32 and a father to two sons himself, Sam Hiliard of KT Wiz wanted to pass those words on to his own children.
Hilliard is one of the top foreign hitters in the KBO League this season. In the regular season, he played 116 games with a batting average of 0.295 (135 hits in 457 at-bats), 32 home runs, 104 RBIs, 86 runs scored, and 8 stolen bases. He recorded an on-base percentage of 0.363, a slugging percentage of 0.556, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.919, positioning himself as a contender for the outfielder's Golden Glove award. His batting average with runners in scoring position also reached 0.304.
It was not smooth sailing from the start. Through April, he maintained a batting average of 0.232, requiring time to adapt to an unfamiliar league. However, he quickly grasped the KBO League with a .350 average in May, .318 in June, and .365 in July.
Hillierd, who spent his first season in Korea, was soon faced with something far more significant than baseball. His second son was born on the 27th of last month. In a recent interview with StarNews, Hillierd said, "It is truly a great blessing for our family. Not only my wife and I, but our eldest son is also very happy to have a younger sibling," as he smiled broadly.
There were concerns because the birth took place in Korea, not the United States. Hiliard said, "I thought it wouldn't be easy to give birth abroad. However, both the environment and the hospital staff treated us exceptionally well. Everything went smoothly, achieving what could be considered the best possible scenario for giving birth outside the U.S. I am truly grateful."
Hilleryard's mother, Tamara, also visited Korea to meet her grandchildren. Having enjoyed watching her son play in the United States as well, she makes a point of attending KT home games and is even enjoying the unfamiliar Korean baseball culture. Hilleryard smiled, saying, "In the U.S., families tended to visit each other frequently, but since I moved abroad, we haven't been able to see each other often. She came to Korea this time for this occasion, and she not only loves seeing her daughter-in-law and grandchildren, but also finds joy and happiness watching me play here."
At the sight, Hilaryard naturally thought of one person: his father, Jim Hilaryard. Jim, an orthopedic and sports medicine physician, was also a former football player who played at the University of Texas. While Hilaryard was nurturing his dream of becoming a major leaguer in the Colorado Rockies' minor league system, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Even while battling illness, he watched his son play baseball. He passed away in 2021 after finally witnessing his son reach the Major Leagues. Since then, his family has continued their work supporting research on ALS and assisting patients and their families.
Hilliard said, "My father did not originally like traveling very much. Even when he was in the United States, he was not someone who often made long trips," but also revealed his deep feelings by adding, "However, if he were still alive today, I am sure he would have come to Korea to meet his son and grandchildren and watch my games."
Among the countless pieces of advice left by his father, one message stands out and refuses to fade from memory. While alive, his father, Jim, would often make quite rough jokes laced with profanity whenever his son, Hilliard, was struggling. He smiled and said, "My father told me, 'It doesn't make sense that you can't do this. You have the ability for more than this; there's no way you should be failing like this.'"
He added, "It might sound a bit strange when you hear it. It meant that I wanted them to remember how good of a player I am. My father was also a great athlete, so he always gave me good advice. Even when I was struggling, he instilled confidence in me in that way," he recalled.
It was not a reprimand for saying they could not do it. It was the father's encouragement, instilling in his wavering son the fact that "you are originally a good player." Now, there are two people to hear those words. Hilliard said, "Whether the children become athletes or pursue anything else later on, I think their father will say something similar to what my father did for me, so they can believe in their own abilities themselves."
Hilliard returned to the field immediately after giving birth to his second child. Coincidentally, in his first game back, he extended his season RBI total, which had been stuck at 99 for a long time, to 100. However, Hilliard did not frame this as what is commonly called a "formula baby buff." Instead, he coldly noted, "I am a player who needs time to find my timing when I take a break from games. While it is good that my body has recovered, my game feel has declined."
He is still playing games every day and working to regain his rhythm. Nevertheless, 2026 spent in Korea has become a year that will be long remembered by Hilliard. He became a batter competing for a Golden Glove in the first league outside the United States, and he welcomed his second son into his arms.
The son, who inherited confidence from his father, has now become a father to two children himself. Whenever Hilliard struggles, he recalls his father's words: "Remember how good of a person you are and how much talent you possess." When his two sons eventually face difficult moments, Hilliard plans to convey the same feelings just as his father did for him.
With an even greater sense of responsibility, he is now racing toward KT's first-place finish in the regular season. Hilliard said, "I think we need to focus on each game rather than worrying about our current standing. This isn't just something I'm saying for the team Jeon Che-reul (CEO); it's a promise I make to myself." He added, "We have a strong pitching staff, and if the position players fulfill their roles, we will be fine. If we aim to win one game every day, I believe we can finish the season in first place."
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*This content was translated by AI.
