Major League Baseball

Royals' Hillman having college jersey retired

Published May. 7, 2010 2:01 a.m. ET

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Kansas City Royals manager Trey Hillman is having his college jersey retired while in Arlington this weekend.

The University of Texas-Arlington will retire Hillman's No. 1 college jersey during a pregame ceremony Saturday. Hillman will attend before his Royals play the Rangers, about 3 1/2 miles from the UTA campus.

``I've got a lot of special memories. I moved (to Arlington) when I was 2, grew up in the school system and stayed here to play college ball,'' Hillman said Thursday before the Royals played the opener of a four-game series in Texas. ``I'm humbled by the honor. It's not something I'll give back.''

Hillman played shortstop at UTA from 1982-85 and is the only player in school history to be named All-Southland Conference three times. His .442 batting average in 1985 is still the school record, and second in conference history.

After completing his professional playing career in Cleveland's minor league system in 1987, 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. He managed in the Yankees minor league system from 1990-2001.

Hillman then spent one season as the director of player development for the Rangers before becoming manager of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan for five seasons and winning the 2006 Japan Series championship. He is in his third season as the Royals manager.

``I wasn't that good,'' Hillman said with a smile. ``I was blessed to get a scholarship, blessed to sign as a free agent with Cleveland, and it's snowballed over the years.''

Royals third base coach Dave Owen and bullpen coach Steve Foster, also UTA alums, will join Hillman at the ceremony. Owen, who played at UTA from 1977-79, was the first Mavericks player to make it to the major leagues with the Chicago Cubs in 1983. Foster, a Maverick from 1987-88, pitched for the Cincinnati Reds from 1991-93.

Hillman is slated to be inducted into the Southland Conference Hall of Fame in June, though he will not be able to attend that ceremony.

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