Rich Hill’s Remarkable Journey: Will the Royals Be His Final MLB Stop or Just Another Chapter?
HOUSTON — Sometimes, baseball is a game of seconds chances and stubborn hope—and the Kansas City Royals are banking on a little bit of both by signing 45-year-old lefty Rich Hill to a minor league contract. Hill is set to join the Royals’ spring training camp in Surprise, Arizona, where he’ll try to shake off the rust and convince the organization he’s got enough left in the tank. After that, it’s likely he’ll head to Triple-A Omaha, still chasing the dream of pitching in meaningful big league innings, ideally as the Royals chase down their playoff hopes.
As Tuesday night’s game in Houston unfolded, Kansas City was locked in a tight race, holding a share of second place in a competitive AL Central—every arm matters at this point.
Hill’s story is one for the ages—a major league debut way back in 2005 with the Cubs, followed by nearly 20 seasons bouncing around the bigs. With 248 starts under his belt and 386 appearances overall, he’s worked for 13 different clubs, putting up a 4.01 ERA and racking 1,428 strikeouts. Should Kansas City call him up, they’d become his 14th team—a rare club, only Edwin Jackson has pitched for that many.
Last year wasn’t exactly a banner season; Hill appeared just four times out of the Red Sox bullpen before being designated for assignment in September. Yet 2016 remains a highlight reel: a 12-5 record combined between the Athletics and Dodgers, with a stunning 2.12 ERA—a reminder that on his best days, Hill’s still a force on the mound.
HOUSTON — The Kansas City Royals are giving Rich Hill another chance to pitch in the big leagues.
The Royals signed the 45-year-old left-hander to a minor league deal Tuesday, and he will report soon to the club’s spring training facility in Surprise, Arizona. Once he gets up to speed, Hill likely will head to Triple-A Omaha and try to prove he can still help a major league ballclub with designs on contending for the postseason.
Kansas City entered Tuesday night’s game in Houston tied for second in the AL Central.
Hill made his big league debut with the Cubs in 2005, and he has made 248 starts and appeared in 386 games over the past two decades. He has a 4.01 ERA with 1,428 strikeouts while pitching for 13 different franchises; the Royals would be the 14th should he get called up, joining Edwin Jackson as the only players to play for that many clubs.
Hill made four appearances out of the Red Sox bullpen last season before he was designated for assignment in September. His best season was in 2016, when he went 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA while pitching for the Athletics and the Dodgers.
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