Hilliard to 'finish strong' in memory of father

ATLANTA -- Rockies outfielder Sam Hilliard was with the team after Monday’s day off. On Sunday, Hilliard’s father, Jim, passed away after a long battle with ALS. The Hilliard family -- spearheaded by his mother, Tamara Hext Hilliard -- were behind Team Hilliard ALS, which raises money for research and treatment of the disease.

Sam has become an important advocate in the fight.

“I’m trying to finish strong,” Sam said. “He would have wanted it that way.”

Manager Bud Black commended Sam for battling through a difficult family time.

“It’s very hard,” Black said. “It’s hard to see this with a member of your team. We stress the importance of family outside of our Rockies family. We’re all connected in a lot of ways. Over the years with Sam’s father, seeing him in Spring Training, seeing him during the course of the year at our ballgames and seeing what has happened over the last couple of years, it’s crushing.

“Sam has handled it as well as anybody could handle it. There have been some emotional moments with Sam. He’s kept his chin up, his chest out, he’s represented his family, he’s represented the ALS cause.”