Rich Hill, a 44-year-old veteran left-handed pitcher, has been called up to the major leagues by the Boston Red Sox, nearly 20 years after his MLB debut. This marks a significant milestone in Hill’s extensive career, as he seeks to become the only active player to have appeared in a game in each of the last 20 MLB seasons.
The Red Sox, dealing with an injury-depleted pitching staff, selected Hill from their Triple-A affiliate, Worcester, in hopes that his experience and endurance could add value to the team.
Manager Alex Cora praised Hill’s physical condition and work ethic, noting that Hill has been meticulous in maintaining his fitness and honing his craft. Cora expressed confidence in Hill’s ability to perform well despite his age, emphasizing that the veteran pitcher is eager to contribute in any role the team requires. This marks Hill’s fourth tenure with the Red Sox, demonstrating his enduring connection to the team and the city of Boston.
Hill is appropriately donning the number 44 on his uniform, symbolizing his age and aligning him with former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, who was the last player to appear in a game for the team at age 44 or older. Wakefield, who holds the Red Sox record for the oldest pitcher to appear in a game at 45, passed away last October and is being honored by the team with a patch bearing his number 49 on their jerseys this season.
Over his long career, Hill has played for 13 different MLB teams, just one shy of the record held by Edwin Jackson. He made his MLB debut with the Chicago Cubs in 2005 and has since pitched for a variety of teams, including Baltimore, Cleveland, Oakland, and the Dodgers, among others. Hill’s career stats include a 90-73 record and a 4.01 ERA over 382 games, with 248 of those being starts.
In addition to Hill’s call-up, the Red Sox made several other roster moves to address their injury challenges. They placed right-handed relievers Luis García and Lucas Sims on the injured list while recalling Greg Weissert and Josh Winckowski from Worcester. Additionally, right-hander Brad Keller was designated for assignment, reflecting the ongoing adjustments the team is making to manage their pitching staff.
