CHICAGO — In his much-anticipated return to the Major Leagues, Kansas City’s 45-year-old pitcher Rich Hill faced a tough outing against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. As the oldest active player in baseball, Hill gave up three runs and six hits over five innings, resulting in a 6-0 loss for the Royals.
It was Hill’s first appearance since last September when he played with the Boston Red Sox, marking the start of his 21st season in the majors and his debut with Kansas City. He was selected from Triple-A Omaha, where he had a 4-4 record and a 5.36 ERA in nine starts this season.
Hill’s pitching performance started slowly, particularly in the second inning where he faced difficulties, throwing 31 pitches and allowing two unearned runs. Manager Matt Quatraro emphasized Hill’s competitive spirit, noting, “He battled his butt off out there… we didn’t play tight enough behind him to keep it where it was.”
Despite the defensive shortcomings of his teammates—most notably a dropped grounder and a bobble on a double play—Hill managed to settle down and retired eight out of nine batters in his final three innings. However, he faced challenges, including surrendering four stolen bases to the Cubs.
Hill’s record now stands at 90 wins and 74 losses, with a career ERA of 4.01 over 368 games as he adds to his unique place in history. He overtook Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry to become the oldest player in Royals history, passed the 45-year mark at 45 years and 133 days old.
Looking ahead, Hill expressed his determination to continue contributing to the team, stating, “It’s easy to say that you love it, but when you know you have more to give, it’s tough to walk away.” The Royals are currently looking to find a consistent role for him in the rotation while they await the return of Michael Lorenzen, who is dealing with an oblique injury.
With a deep and storied career, including significant postseason success with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Hill’s journey is a testament to perseverance in professional sports. His passion for the game remains evident, and there’s hope within the organization and among fans that his experience can still make an impact moving forward.