Don Baylor wavered all spring.
One day he would say Bobby Hill had to be the flat-out winner to unseat veteran second baseman Delino DeShields. Another day he would say the two were on equal footing.
In the end, Baylor’s actions spoke volumes. Hill was one of four players the Cubs sent back to minor-league camp on Tuesday. Infielders Kevin Orie and Luis Ordaz and catcher Mike Mahoney were the other three.
“No disappointment,” Hill said. “The spring training I had gave me all the confidence in the world that I belong. I’ll continue to do my best and work my butt off to get back here.”
If Baylor had made his decision strictly on spring training numbers, Hill would have the job. He hit .300 (18-for-60) with eight extra-base hits and a team-high nine walks for a .425 on-base percentage. DeShields is batting .278 (15-for-51) with five extra-base hits and a .291 on-base percentage.
But spring training performances can be deceiving, and Baylor believes there’s no substitute for experience.
“We have a problem [in baseball] with rushing guys too soon,” Baylor said. “I know Bobby is mentally tough enough to handle whatever is presented to him. But guys [should] develop to make sure they never go back to the minor leagues.”
Hill, who turns 24 in April, has played just 60 games above the Class-A level. DeShields, meanwhile, is a proven commodity who had a .380 on-base percentage with the Cubs last season. He’s also one of the game’s top baserunners.
Before the decision was announced, DeShields had been asked what he would do if he were manager.
“That’s tough,” he said. “Bobby, he’s going to be a good player, but it’s a numbers thing right now. If I’m a manager . . . I don’t know.
“Even though he played college ball I think he should at least taste Triple-A.”
Hill didn’t rise above Double-A West Tenn last season because of a persistent groin injury that sidelined him for three months. But with healthy legs Hill showed above-average range in the spring. He did commit three errors, including one on an errant throw Tuesday.
“He has done a lot to clear out the negatives,” hitting coach Jeff Pentland said. “He battles all the time and has a good knowledge of the strike zone.
“The only thing he lacks, really, is experience, and that may be an excuse.”
It was the best excuse the Cubs could think of. That and the fact that if Hill had been named the starter, DeShields, 33, would have had to scramble for at-bats.
“Delino DeShields is a good veteran ballplayer,” Pentland said. “He knows how to lead off and still has a lot of fire for the game. It’s proven.”
Baylor had said he wouldn’t take Hill as a bench player because that would deprive him of at-bats. Third catcher Robert Machado and pinch-hitting specialist Angel Echevarria will battle for the final roster spot.
“I’ve gone over every scenario [with Hill] you can imagine,” Baylor said. “He needs to play.”
Hill will remain with the Cubs this week and start the year at Triple-A Iowa. If the Cubs decide to promote him, DeShields said he could handle a role on the bench.
“Whatever they decide to do, I won’t have a problem with it,” he said. “I’ve been here before.
“Look, the kid’s trying to make his name and I for feel him. He’s a good kid. That’s the main thing. If he were a [jerk], I wouldn’t be talking about Bobby Hill. But he’s a good kid.”
