Cubs Catcher Koyie Hill Comes Back Stronger After Severing His Fingers in a Table Saw Accident

This spring Koyie Hill is battling Paul Bako as the Cubs backup catcher to 2008 NL Rookie of the Year, Geovany Soto. Amazingly only a year and a half ago he was wondering if he'd ever play again after severing his fingers and a thumb on his throwing hand in a table saw accident. Only months after having the fingers and thumb reattached, he was in spring training with the Cubs and ended up playing 113 games with the Iowa Cubs, hitting .275.

Future prospects look good, but 2009 probably isn't his year
Although Hill was just happy to be playing last year, in 2009 he would like to make the big league club. With Henry Blanco out of the picture, the Cubs signed Paul Bako to back up Geovany Soto. Koyie Hill looks to be third on the depth chart. Word is that he's nearly fully recovered from his injuries and they shouldn't affect him at all this year. Surprisingly, Koyie Hill had a lot of pop at AAA last year, hitting 17 home runs, his career high.

Don't pick Koyie Hill (or Paul Bako) as a fantasy sleeper
Soto was as durable as they come in 2008 and I expect him to be the same in 2009. He reported to camp last year in great shape and Lou Piniella sent him out there for 141 games. Henry Blanco hit well last year, but Soto was arguably the best Cubs hitter and was great handling the pitchers. Piniella just didn't want to take him out of the lineup. Even if Hill does make the big league club, a backup catcher for the Cubs will not be a player who gets a lot of action.

After recovering from severing his fingers, look for Koyie Hill to have a solid season in AAA
Even if Koyie Hill doesn't make the bog league club out of spring training, it's important to have a solid guy like him ready at AAA in case something happens to Soto and Bako. Chances are an injury will occur at some point in the season and the Cubs will need Hill to come up and play a role. In the meantime, look for Hill to have another solid season in AAA with the Iowa Cubs. No doubt after the table saw injury he has a renewed appreciation for the games of baseball and will be in great physical shape.