Millions of children dream about one day making it to the Major Leagues. Few ever do. Even fewer last more than a few seasons. By the time Rich Hill had turned 40 years old, he had pitched for 9 different MLB teams. Rich had already defied the odds. Most players would’ve walked away before then. Hill was different – he continued on, not because he had to, but because something inside of him refused to quit.
By the time he had hit high school, he was already a game-changer. As a freshman, he was one of only 4 players in the entire school’s history to make varsity. It was a very rare accomplishment, it signaled early on that Rich had potential, even if he wasn’t a standout prospect. He was never the biggest or most hyped player, he didn’t have an overpowering fastball that’d turn heads, but his dedication and work ethic was what set him apart.
After graduating from Milton High School in 1997, Hill was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 36th round of the 1999 MLB Draft. However, he wasn’t ready to take the jump to the next level yet. His sights were set on further development, and he chose to play college ball for the Michigan Wolverines.
College Years
At the University of Michigan, Hill finally had more room to grow as an athlete, a competitor, and as a person. Hill stayed at Michigan for 3 years. He committed himself to the details, he worked hard on his mechanics, studied hitters, and started to understand more about the pitcher he was. His velocity still didn’t light up the radar gun, but he learned how to efficiently command and use movement to his advantage. He used his ability to pitch from different arm slots to carve hitters down over the dog days of the season. His time at Michigan was cut short after his junior season. Rich was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 4th round of the 2002 MLB Draft, he later signed a month later. His hard work had begun to pay off. From 1999 to 2002, he had jumped 32 rounds by deciding to go to Michigan.
Humble Beginnings
Rich’s time in the minors started in the Chicago Cubs organization. He spent 3 years moving up the ranks before finally getting the call, he was heading to the majors.
Rich’s long-awaited MLB debut came on June 15, 2005 in a game against the Florida Marlins. He came in as a reliever in the 6th inning. He left the game after 1 inning, giving up 2. Hill ended up making 10 more appearances over the rest of the season, 4 starts and 6 more relief appearances. His first start of his MLB career came on July 25, 2005 against the San Francisco Giants. He pitched 5 strong innings while only giving up 2 runs. He ended the year with a 9.13 ERA, showcasing his early struggles.
The 2006 season didn’t uphold much, he had 16 starts and pitched to a 4,17 ERA. 2007, was the best of his early years in the majors. He finally seemed to be adjusting well to the workload and attitude that a major leaguer needs to bear to succeed. He started 32 games, went 11-8 and pitched to a 3.92 ERA. He had finally seemed to have settled in, and it made many believe that he was going to be a staple in the Cubs rotation for years to come. 2008 was a season to forget. Hill struggled immensely throughout the year with control issues. He had 5 starts and spent most of the year in Triple-A, he walked 49 batters in 47.2 innings in Triple-A. The Cubs eventually decided to fully shut him down due to his back and mechanical issues. He was later traded to the Orioles after 2008.
The Journey Begins
In 2009 with his new team, the Baltimore Orioles, he struggled again. In just 14 games with the O’s he pitched to a 7.80 ERA. 2010 was a similar story to the past 2 years, his mechanical and back issues were causing his struggles and it was costing him a spot in the big leagues. He was released by the Orioles in 2010, and ended up signing a minor league deal with his hometown team, the Boston Red Sox.
He bounced between the minors and majors from 2010-2012 with the Red Sox. in 2012, he finally got a true opportunity in the majors again. In 25 relief appearances he pitched to a stellar 1.83 ERA, only giving up 4 total Earned Runs. The next few years he bounced around the league, pitching for the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) , Los Angeles Angels, and New York Yankees. The year turned to 2015, and now all hope was lost. The lefty had just opted out of his minor league contract with the Nationals and had signed a deal with the Long Island Ducks, a team in an Independent League. Hill absolutely dominated in his 2 starts there, breaking franchise records and leaving his mark there. This caught the attention of the Red Sox, yet again. He signed back there and began the revival of his career. He shined in Triple-A with Pawtucket and eventually, got the call back to the majors. He pitched 2 games (both starts) to a 1.55 ERA, he had a new revised curveball and looked better than ever. At a time when many others would’ve just given up, he pushed forward in silence, working hard every single day.
Revival
In the offseason before the 2016 season, Rich signed a 1 year, 6 million dollar deal with the Oakland Athletics. This deal was seen as a high risk, high reward type deal due to Hill’s high injury concerns, but also his potential to be a solid starter for them. In an incident where Sonny Gray got food poisoning prior to opening day, Hill was handed the ball and started opening day for the A’s.
Hill had an immediate impact on the A’s, in his 14 games with them nearing the trade deadline he pitched to an elite 2.12 ERA, and a 9-3 record with 129 K’s. Due to Hill’s excellent performance and the Athletic’s being out of contention for the playoffs, Rich was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on August, 1, 2016. This was the turning point his career needed. He finished the year with a 12-5 record, a 2.12 ERA and 163 K’s. This was a remarkable resurgence for the now 36-year old lefty, this season with the A’s and Dodgers laid the foundation for the rest of his long career.
Over the next 3 seasons with the Dodgers, Hill was in his prime. In 2017, He was a big part of helping the Dodgers make it all the way to the World Series against the Houston Astros, ultimately falling just short. Yet again, in 2018, he was a huge part in the rotation that helped the Dodgers make a deep playoff run. They made the World Series against his hometown team, the Boston Red Sox, but fell short once again. In Game 4 during the 2018 World Series, manager Dave Roberts made a controversial decision to remove Hill from the game during the 7th inning, many experts and fans still talk about that decision to this day. The Dodgers led late until Roberts pulled Hill, causing the Dodgers to end up losing 9-6 and fall down 3-1 in the series. 2019 was the same story once again, except that the Dodgers fell to the Nationals in the NLDS. Rich’s 2019 was derailed by injuries, but he was very efficient when healthy.
Journeyman, Once Again
After the 2019 season, Hill signed a 1 year deal to join the Minnesota Twins. He played there for a year and pitched to a 3.03 ERA in the COVID-shortened season. In 2021 he signed a 1 year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, he pitched very well there and was traded to the New York Mets at the trade deadline. 2022, he yet again signed a 1 year deal, but this time he signed for another stint with the Boston Red Sox, he started 26 games that year. Then in 2023, he signed a deal with the Pirates to pitch there, he had a somewhat shaky 1st half but was on the trade block due to the Pirates being out of playoff contention. He was traded to the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline, and after lots of struggles as a starter he was sent to the bullpen.
During the 2024 MLB season, Rich made the decision to not sign with any teams during the offseason so that he’d be able to spend time with his son, Brice. It seems as if though Hill’s rough stint with the Padres would’ve been his last time stepping foot an a major league mound. However, if you’ve learned anything about Rich Hill by now, you’d realize this was far from the case. Hill signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox yet again, and was called up to the majors only 10 days later. On August 29, 2024, Hill stepped back on the mound in the 7th inning coming in relief for Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford. He pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and capped it off with a sweet sweeping curve K off Addison Barger. Shortly after this game, after having some struggles with the Red Sox he was designated for assignment. Now, it seemed almost a given that his career was over.
One Last Hurrah?
On May 13, 2025, in a move that shocked many in the baseball world, Rich Hill yet again signed a deal. He signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals, if he were to be called up from Triple-A, it’d be his 14th team and he’d tie the record for most teams played on in a career in MLB history.
Rich’s resilience has turned a career that seemed surely over to many, into one of the most improbable second acts in sports history. If there’s one thing his journey has taught us? Never assume that the story is over. He defied the odds time and time again, never giving up at the frightening sight of adversity. When most had written him off, he proved them wrong yet again. Hill’s legacy isn’t found in box scores or statistics, it’s found in the heart of every ballplayer who grinds everyday for that chance.
The next time you think about giving up on your goals, think about Rich. Think of the pitcher who refused to let age, injury, failure, or doubt define him. He battled through the margins and adversity of baseball and earned every single inning he was able to pitch on the mound. His legacy does not just enhold baseball-it’s about believing in yourself when others don’t. That’s a story worth remembering.
