The ageless Rich Hill is set to resume his Major League Baseball career. The seasoned left-handed pitcher is anticipated to be added to the Kansas City Royals’ roster this Monday, following his minor-league agreement with the team in mid-May. Robert Murray of FanSided initially reported Hill’s advancement from Triple-A Omaha.
Upon joining the Royals, Hill, now 45, will overtake Justin Verlander, 42, as the most senior active player in Major League Baseball. This season, Hill will stand as the sixth player in their 40s to be part of an MLB roster.
Kansas City represents the 14th MLB franchise for Hill across his 21 seasons, equaling Edwin Jackson’s record for the highest number of teams played for during a career. Hill’s most recent stint was with the Boston Red Sox in 2024, where he participated in four games, achieving a 4.91 ERA across 3 2/3 innings.
The precise function Hill will perform for the Royals remains undetermined, given the team’s pending official announcement of his return. As of Monday, Kansas City has not yet named a starting pitcher for Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Cubs, hinting at Hill as a possible choice for the opening. All nine of Hill’s appearances for Triple-A Omaha were as a starter, lasting an average of 4 2/3 innings. He recorded a 5.36 ERA, accompanied by 48 strikeouts and 25 walks over 42 innings.
In his start on July 13 against the Toledo Mud Hens, Hill achieved 10 strikeouts while conceding only one run and four hits. This accomplishment marks him as the first 45-year-old to secure double-digit strikeouts in a professional baseball game since Nolan Ryan’s performance against the Athletics on August 6, 1992, according to FanSided.
Currently, the Royals’ injured list includes starting pitchers Cole Ragans (left rotator cuff strain), Alec Marsh (right shoulder soreness), and Michael Lorenzen (left oblique strain). Furthermore, relief pitcher Daniel Lynch IV (left elbow nerve irritation) has been out of play since July 6.
Hill formalized his minor-league contract with the Royals on May 13 and transitioned to Triple-A following a pair of appearances with the club’s Rookie League squad. Despite having the option to terminate his agreement on June 15, he decided to stay with Omaha, aiming for a potential call-up or the chance to sign with another team if interest arose.
Throughout his career, Hill has accumulated a record of 90-74, boasting a 4.01 ERA and 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings. Many consider his standout season to be 2007, where he achieved an 11-8 record with a 3.93 ERA in 32 starts, fanning 183 batters in 195 innings while playing for the Cubs.
The 14 MLB teams Hill has been a part of include:
Cubs (2005-08)
Orioles (2009)
Red Sox (2010-12, 2015, 2022, 2024)
Guardians (2013)
Angels (2014)
Yankees (2014)
Athletics (2016)
Dodgers (2016-19)
Twins (2020)
Rays (2021)
Mets (2021)
Pirates (2023)
Padres (2023)
Royals (2025)
