SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies outfielder Sam Hilliard swung easily. The result was an opposite-field double on a 92 mph fastball from the Dodgers’ Dustin May.

Hilliard, 6-foot-5 and currently around 230 pounds, understands that in his field of work, his build is a gift. Brandish those blessings too eagerly, however, and you get a year like Hilliard's 2020, when he hit .210 with 42 strikeouts in 114 plate appearances. As a hitter, Hilliard faces temptations most folks only wish they were gifted enough to fight.

“It’s really fun to hit the ball really far -- and you can every time,” Hilliard said. “I get out there in batting practice and my mind starts to say, ‘Hey, let’s see how far you can hit it.’

“But it's just about maturing and trying to be a professional. And knowing that hitting balls 500 feet in batting practice is not going to help you translate anything into the game.”

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The left-handed-hitting Hilliard, who prefers center field but can play all three outfield positions, enters the season as part of a rotation. The right-handed Garrett Hampson plays center but can move to the infield, and there will be opportunities to rest left fielder Raimel Tapia and right fielder Charlie Blackmon, both left-handed hitters. Chris Owings and (less frequently) Josh Fuentes, both right-handed hitters and multi-position players, also figure in the outfield picture.

With the Rockies willing to move players around, a side benefit of a simplified approach means Hilliard won’t be as susceptible to downturns that irregular playing time can create.

Hilliard debuted in 2019 to the tune of a .273 average with seven home runs, four doubles and two triples in just 27 games. He struck out 26.4 percent of his plate appearances, as opposed to 36.8 percent the following season. The power was still there in 2020, though, with 10 of Hilliard’s 22 hits going for extra bases, including six home runs.

Going into Tuesday night against the Reds at Goodyear, Ariz., Hilliard carried a .296 Cactus League batting average. The double off May was his first extra-base hit. But the theory is if Hilliard focuses on making consistent contact, his physical gifts will help translate that into home runs and other productive swings.

Trouble brews when Hilliard overswings -- a habit that creates a lengthier swing that doesn’t catch up to the fastball. Per Statcast pitch tracking, his swing-and-miss, or “whiff,” rate on fastballs rose from 25.3 percent in 2019 to 33.8 percent in ‘20. He also increased his rate of missing both breaking (35.1 percent in ’19, 43.4 percent in ’20) and offspeed pitches (21.4 in ’19, 51.4 in ’20).

Hilliard's controlled setup, mechanics, thoughts and actions of the early spring are steps in the right direction. Now, he has to control himself when opponents pitch to an actual plan, bigger crowds are watching, and the games and stats count.

“He’s got enough natural power with a nice stroke that it can result in damage,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “It’s all about getting reps against quality pitching and a comfort level of being in the batter’s box and trying to produce those things in competition.”

Hitting coach Dave Magadan preached the same less-is-more message to Hilliard and Ryan McMahon, who also saw a downturn from 2019 to '20. If both receive the message, they can provide left-handed answers to the question of how the Rockies will replace the power of Nolan Arenado, traded to the Cardinals, and David Dahl, now with the Rangers.

Arenado and Dahl played through shoulder injuries last season and came nowhere near their power expectations, while Hilliard and McMahon learned hard lessons.

“I’m a huge fan of Sammy’s,” Magadan said. “He’s got a little bit of what ‘Mac’ falls into. They fall in love with how far they can hit a ball, which is understandable because it’s pretty sexy to hit a ball as far as anybody in the game.

“Fall in love with doing that hard contact, but don’t feel like you’ve got to hit every ball 500 feet. Fall in love with being a good hitter. You don’t have to take a max-effort swing.”

Perhaps the best way for Hilliard to "fall in love" with controlled hitting would be if the approach led to a few homers by the end of the Cactus League season. Hilliard has reason to believe it will.

“It’s something I’ve always understood,” Hilliard said. “Most of my homers, especially in the big leagues, have come whenever I'm just taking an easy swing. I wasn’t trying to necessarily hit a home run. I’ve just got to be stubborn about that kind of approach.”