1. Overview
John Eric Hillman (born April 27, 1966) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) pitcher. Known for his exceptional height, he was one of the tallest players in baseball history during his career. Hillman played for the New York Mets in MLB from 1992 to 1994, before moving to Japan where he had a successful tenure with the Chiba Lotte Marines (1995-1996), achieving consecutive double-digit win seasons and earning significant individual honors. His career took a challenging turn after joining the Yomiuri Giants (1997-1998), primarily due to a persistent shoulder injury and the resulting public controversy, leading to his eventual release. Following his playing career, Hillman transitioned into broadcasting, serving as a television analyst. A later accurate diagnosis of his chronic shoulder injury shed light on the medical challenges he faced during his professional career in Japan.
2. Early Life and Amateur Career
John Eric Hillman was born on April 27, 1966, in Indiana, United States. He played high school baseball at Homewood-Flossmoor High School in suburban Chicago, demonstrating early talent. After high school, he continued his collegiate baseball career at Eastern Illinois University. His performance at the collegiate level drew the attention of professional scouts, leading to his selection by the New York Mets in the 16th round of the 1987 Major League Baseball draft.
3. Major League Baseball Career
Hillman made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on May 18, 1992, with the New York Mets. He pitched for the Mets for three seasons, from 1992 to 1994. During his time in MLB, Hillman appeared in 49 games, starting 36 of them. He recorded a career total of 4 wins and 14 losses with an ERA of 4.85 across 232.0 innings pitched. Despite his imposing presence on the mound at 6 feet 10 inches (82 in (208 cm)) tall, his MLB career was relatively brief before he sought new opportunities in Japanese professional baseball.
4. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Career
After his tenure in Major League Baseball, Hillman transitioned to Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), where he spent four seasons from 1995 to 1998. He played for two different teams during this period: the Chiba Lotte Marines and the Yomiuri Giants. His time in Japan was marked by both significant success and considerable challenges, including a notable injury and public perception issues.
4.1. Chiba Lotte Marines
John Hillman joined the Chiba Lotte Marines in December 1994, under the management of Bobby Valentine. He quickly became a key part of the starting rotation. In his first season in Japan in 1995, he achieved 12 wins, contributing significantly to the team's second-place finish in the Pacific League. His success continued in 1996 when he recorded 14 wins. He was recognized for his outstanding performance by being selected for the Best Nine Award and was also named the MVP of the 1996 All-Star Game.
Hillman's pitching style was characterized by his towering 6-foot-10-inch (82 in (208 cm)) frame, from which he threw a variety of breaking balls, including a curveball, slider, and screwball. Despite his height, his fastball velocity was not exceptionally high. He was also known for his aggressive approach, frequently pitching inside to batters, as evidenced by his 15 hit batters in 1996, which was the highest in the league. Alongside Hideki Irabu and Satoru Komiyama, Hillman formed a formidable starting trio for the Marines, widely regarded as one of the league's best at the time.
Beyond his on-field performance, Hillman was popular among fans in Japan. He displayed a playful personality, such as appearing in a groundkeeper's uniform with Kip Gross during the 1996 All-Star Game. He also showed sportsmanship, notably congratulating Nobuyuki Hoshino after losing a close 0-1 pitcher's duel in 1996.
However, his departure from the Marines was clouded by controversy surrounding the 1996 ERA title. By September 23, 1996, with 10 games remaining in the season and the Orix Buffaloes having clinched the championship, Hillman held the top ERA at 2.28, significantly ahead of Hideki Irabu (2.73). After Hillman's ERA worsened to 2.405 following a poor outing on September 28, the Marines' management reportedly decided not to pitch him again, instead giving three starts to Irabu in the remaining six games to help him win the ERA title. Irabu subsequently held his ERA to 2.403, narrowly surpassing Hillman. This decision caused Hillman considerable dissatisfaction, leading to his departure from the team at the end of the season.
4.2. Yomiuri Giants
Following his departure from the Chiba Lotte Marines, John Hillman was acquired by the Yomiuri Giants in a cash trade on November 13, 1996, signing a two-year contract worth 250.00 M JPY annually. The Giants had high expectations for Hillman, viewing him as a crucial player for their aspirations of winning the Central League pennant and the Japan Series.
However, Hillman's tenure with the Giants was plagued by a persistent shoulder injury that became apparent shortly after his transfer. In 1997, he was limited to just two appearances, pitching only 6.0 innings, reportedly under forced conditions that disregarded his physical condition. He underwent shoulder surgery that year. In 1998, despite initial promising pitches in spring training, he again withdrew, citing "discomfort" in his shoulder. He famously used the Japanese word "違和感IwakanJapanese", meaning "a sense of discomfort" or "a strange feeling," to describe his condition, leading to the derogatory nickname "Mr. Iwakan." He provided colorful analogies for his pain, such as "a jackknife stuck in my shoulder" or "Konishiki is sitting on my shoulder."
His repeated refusal to pitch due to this "discomfort" and his perceived lack of effort during his time in the Giants' minor league system led to further public criticism and the derisive nickname "Hiruman" (昼マンHirumanJapanese), a play on his surname and the Japanese word for "noon," implying he would leave practice early to go home. He made no appearances in 1998 and was eventually released by the Giants on May 30, 1998. The then-club owner, Tsuneo Watanabe, reportedly expressed anger, telling Hillman to "take the money and leave." Despite receiving 500.00 M JPY for less than two seasons and only two games pitched, Hillman publicly stated, "Don't put me in the same category as Kevin Mitchell or Mike Greenwell," and even expressed a desire to return to the Giants after his shoulder recovered.
5. Post-Playing Career
After his professional baseball playing career concluded, John Eric Hillman transitioned into sports broadcasting. He served as an analyst for FSN Rocky Mountain (now Root Sports Rocky Mountain), providing coverage for the Colorado Rockies. His role as an analyst allowed him to remain involved with baseball, offering his insights and expertise to a wider audience from 2005 to 2008.
6. Retirement and Health Issues
John Eric Hillman officially retired from professional baseball on April 19, 2000, after a brief comeback attempt with the Houston Astros' Double-A affiliate, the Round Rock Express, where he made one appearance in 2000.
The persistent shoulder pain that had significantly curtailed his career, particularly during his time with the Yomiuri Giants, was accurately diagnosed only after his return to the United States. In July 1998, after his release from the Giants, Hillman underwent arthroscopic surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews. The surgery revealed a full-thickness tear in his rotator cuff, a serious injury that Japanese doctors and trainers during his Giants tenure had reportedly missed or misdiagnosed. This accurate diagnosis confirmed the legitimate basis for his "discomfort" claims in Japan, which had led to public criticism and the "Mr. Iwakan" nickname. The injury ultimately ended his pitching career.
According to former Giants player Warren Cromartie's book, Sayonara Samurai Baseball, the Giants' team doctors at the time had a pattern of misdiagnoses. Cromartie himself claimed that a doctor had initially declared his condition "normal," only for another physician to reveal a different, more accurate diagnosis at Cromartie's own expense, a fact that the team reportedly attempted to keep quiet. This suggests that the Giants' medical assessments may have been inadequate, contributing to Hillman's prolonged struggle and the misunderstandings surrounding his injury.
7. Career Statistics
| Year | Team | G | GS | CG | SHO | No-walk games | W | L | SV | HLD | W-L% | BF | IP | H | HR | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | WP | BK | R | ER | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | NYM | 11 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | -- | .500 | 227 | 52.1 | 67 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 31 | 5.33 | 1.47 |
| 1993 | 27 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 0 | -- | .182 | 627 | 145.0 | 173 | 12 | 24 | 2 | 4 | 60 | 0 | 1 | 83 | 64 | 3.97 | 1.36 | |
| 1994 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -- | .000 | 156 | 34.2 | 45 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 30 | 7.79 | 1.62 | |
| 1995 | Lotte | 28 | 28 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 9 | 0 | -- | .571 | 801 | 197.1 | 186 | 8 | 49 | 1 | 8 | 121 | 3 | 0 | 66 | 63 | 2.87 | 1.19 |
| 1996 | 29 | 29 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 0 | -- | .609 | 861 | 213.1 | 179 | 12 | 46 | 1 | 15 | 119 | 3 | 0 | 66 | 57 | 2.40 | 1.05 | |
| 1997 | Giants | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -- | .000 | 28 | 6.0 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3.00 | 1.67 |
| MLB (3 years) | 49 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 0 | -- | .286 | 1010 | 232.0 | 285 | 30 | 45 | 7 | 8 | 96 | 2 | 2 | 144 | 125 | 4.85 | 1.42 | |
| NPB (3 years) | 59 | 59 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 26 | 19 | 0 | -- | .578 | 1690 | 416.2 | 373 | 21 | 97 | 2 | 24 | 243 | 6 | 0 | 134 | 122 | 2.64 | 1.13 | |
- Bold indicates league leader
8. Awards and Honors
Throughout his professional baseball career, John Eric Hillman received several significant awards and honors, particularly during his successful tenure in Nippon Professional Baseball.
- Best Nine Award: One time (1996)
- IBM Player of the Year Award: One time (1996)
- All-Star Game Selection: One time (1996)
8.1. Uniform Numbers
- 53 (1992-1994)
- 42 (1995-1998)
9. Legacy and Public Perception
John Eric Hillman is remembered for several distinct aspects of his baseball career. His most notable physical characteristic was his exceptional height of 6 feet 10 inches (82 in (208 cm)). In Major League Baseball history, he was initially tied with fellow pitcher Randy Johnson as the tallest player, a record later surpassed by Jon Rauch. In Nippon Professional Baseball, he was, until the arrival of 216 cm tall Luke van Mil in 2014, tied with Jason Tarmann as the tallest player ever to have played for an NPB team.
During his time with the Chiba Lotte Marines, Hillman enjoyed significant popularity among fans, not only for his impressive pitching performance, including two consecutive double-digit win seasons and multiple individual honors, but also for his approachable and sometimes humorous personality.
However, his later career with the Yomiuri Giants left a more complex legacy, largely defined by the "Mr. Iwakan" (ミスター違和感Mr. IwakanJapanese) nickname. This moniker, stemming from his repeated use of the Japanese term "違和感IwakanJapanese" to describe his shoulder discomfort and his subsequent limited appearances, became synonymous with his struggles. While public perception at the time often leaned towards frustration and skepticism regarding his explanations, the later accurate diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear after his return to the United States provided crucial context, indicating that his "discomfort" was indeed a symptom of a severe, underlying injury. This medical clarification sheds light on the challenges he faced and the criticisms directed at him, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of his later career in Japan.