Trey Hillman Returns to UT Arlington for Prestigious Tribute
ARLINGTON, Texas - After spending the past year leading the Kansas City Royals in his first season as a major league manager, Arlington native and UT Arlington graduate Trey Hillman returned to his hometown to receive the highest honor given by the University and Alumni and to also spend a day speaking to students, faculty and staff and the public.
This past Saturday night, Hillman was one of 10 former alums who were recognized at the 43rd Annual Distinguished Alumni Gala. The Gala recognizes outstanding alumni for their individual achievements, contributions to their industry or profession and services to UT Arlington.
The UT Arlington Department of Kinesiology and the Department of Athletics then invited Hillman to be the keynote speaker at The 25th Anderson Sport Performance Lecture on Monday afternoon, held in the Lone Star Auditorium in the Maverick Activities Center.
Hillman, the only three-time All-Southland Conference baseball selection in UT Arlington history, felt great pride in joining such a prominent group of former UT Arlington graduates.
“When I read the program and listened to the speeches of the other distinguished alumni that were honored, it just goes back to what my opening line was in my speech ? I just do baseball,” Hillman said. “These other distinguished alumni are doing so many impactful things in the world. So to be included in that group is a tremendous honor.”
“It was great. All of my old colleagues, my coaches, my teammates, my wife getting to experience it, my dad, my new mom, it was just really cool.”
After completing his prep career in 1981 at Sam Houston High School in Arlington, Hillman spent four years as a student-athlete at UT Arlington (1982-85) before signing a free agent contract with the Cleveland Indians in 1985. Hillman graduated from UT Arlington in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport studies.
His playing days with the Mavericks made him one of the greatest players in the 40-year history of the UT Arlington baseball program. Hillman’s .442 batting average in 1985 led the Southland Conference and ranks at the top of the UT Arlington single-season record books.
He became the first Maverick baseball player inducted into the UT Arlington Hall of Honor in 1992.
Hillman’s speech on Monday was titled “Leadership Journey through Baseball.” He spoke over an hour on subjects including his career path that led him to become the manager of the Kansas City Royals, the people who influenced his journey, and the skill sets that he believes it takes to be successful in life.
There is no question that Hillman himself has been a true success on his way to becoming one of the 30 managers in Major League Baseball.
After completing his professional playing career in 1987 in the Cleveland Indians minor league organization, Hillman spent one season scouting with the Indians before becoming the youngest minor league manager at that time with the New York Yankees Class-A club in the Carolina League. Hillman followed with immediate achievement guiding his squad to the league championship.
Overall, Hillman was named Manager of the Year three times during his tenure in the New York Yankees organization, while leading his teams to eight winning seasons and four playoff appearances in 12 minor league seasons (1990-2001).
The path for Hillman and his family went back through his home state for one year as the Director of Player Development with the Texas Rangers, before he accepted a managerial position with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan.
Hillman’s knowledge of the game and on-field success translated immediately to his newest organization and set of players in Japan, unlike the language barrier that allowed Hillman to use an interpreter during his time as manager of the Nippon-Ham Fighters.
During his five seasons in Japan, the Nippon-Ham Fighters made three playoff appearances (2004, 2006, 2007), which includes winning the 2006 Japan Series championship and the 2006 Asian Championship. It was the first title for the Nippon-Ham Fighters franchise since 1962.
Success in Hillman’s eyes goes far beyond the wins and losses throughout a baseball season, but one area that was evident in his first season with Kansas City was the fact he led the Royals to their most victories in five seasons.
“I think that if every day you have the opportunity to do something that you are passionate about, I think that is the definition of being successful,” Hillman said.
After becoming the 15th full-time manager of the Royals nearly a year ago, Hillman led Kansas City to 75 victories in 2008. It was only the fifth time during the last 16 years that the Royals had eclipsed 74 wins in a season.
The path for Hillman continues, but it won’t start when the Royals upcoming season begins in 2009, it will begin immediately as Hillman’s self-motivation pushes him to find progress within himself on a day-to-day basis.
“I want to get better every day,” Hillman said. “I want to get better every day and never get selfish with my time. I think God blesses us all with different skill sets. I want to improve on the ones that I have, and I would like to learn new ones. I love meeting people that have leadership skills of any kind, in business and in other sports.”