Royals Bolster Pitching Staff, Agree to Minor League Deal With 45-Year-Old Left-Hander

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Rich Hill, at 45, is striving to return to a major league roster and has taken a step closer to that goal. The Royals have confirmed a minor league deal with Hill. The left-handed pitcher will head to Surprise, Arizona, and is anticipated to join Kansas City’s Triple-A team in Omaha soon.

Having played for 20 seasons in the MLB across 13 teams, Hill is on the verge of matching Edwin Jackson’s record of appearing for 14 different teams. Despite not receiving any awards or All-Star nods in his lengthy career, Hill has maintained a solid performance, boasting a 90-74 record and a 4.01 ERA in 386 games and 1,409 innings pitched. In his age-43 season, he made 32 starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres.

Although it remains uncertain what Kansas City expects from Hill, given their current ranking of No. 3 in Wins Above Average from starting pitchers, the signing may aim to help Hill equal Jackson’s record rather than significantly contribute to the team’s performance. Nevertheless, it is remarkable to witness a 45-year-old player continue to dedicate himself to prolonging his major league career for another season.

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