Rich Hill

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

Hill relies heavily on an outstanding curve that he throws anywhere from a third to half of the time.  He also throws a four-seam fastball that sat in the low-90s for much of his career, but now is closer to 88 mph.  Opponents struggle with the curve but the fastball is hittable.  Hill also throws a cutter, slider and change, all of which are effective at times.  Since he relies mainly on the combination of fastballs up and curves, he’s somewhat prone to longballs.  He struggled to throw strikes early in his career, but generally has good control now.  For many year, he put up extremely high K rates, but the swing-and-miss has been less prominent the last few years.  Over his career he’s had just a minor platoon split.  The Pirates signed Hill to a one-year deal for 2023.

2002
A-:  0-2-0, 8.36 ERA, 2.07 WHIP, 14.0 IP, 9.0 BB/9, 7.7 K/9

Hill made five starts and one relief appearance in his debut, and had trouble throwing strikes.

2003
A-:  1-6-0, 4.35 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 68.1 IP, 4.2 BB/9, 13.0 K/9
A:  0-1-0, 2.76 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 29.1 IP, 11.0 BB/9, 15.3 K/9

The Cubs sent Hill back to short season ball for 14 starts and he led the league in strikeouts.  He also made 15 appearances in low A and had extremely high walk and strikeout rates.  Baseball America ranked him 27th in the Cubs’ system after the season.

2004
A+:  7-6-0, 4.03 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 109.1 IP, 5.9 BB/9, 11.2 K/9

The walks and strikeouts continued for Hill in the Florida State League.  BA ranked him 24th in the system.

2005
A:  1-0-0, 1.13 ERA, 0.63 WHIP, 8.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 13.5 K/9
AA:  4-3-0, 3.28 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 57.2 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 14.0 K/9
AAA:  6-1-0, 3.60 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 65.0 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 12.7 K/9

Hill started throwing far more strikes and made his way through three levels.  He also led the minors in K/9.  BA ranked him fifth in the system.

2006
AAA:  7-1-0, 1.80 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 100.0 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 12.2 K/9
MLB:  6-7-0, 4.17 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 99.1 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 8.2 K/9

The Cubs called Hill up in May and he got hammered over four starts.  After going back to AAA for two months, he spent the season’s last two months in the majors and was much more effective, with an ERA of 2.60 over a dozen starts and one relief appearance.  Hill had some trouble with gopher balls, giving up 16.

2007
MLB:  11-8-0, 3.92 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 195.0 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 8.4 K/9

Hill had a strong season for the Cubs, making 32 starts.  His one problem was with the longball, as he allowed 27.

2008
R:  1-1-0, 2.89 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 9.1 IP, 4.8 BB/9, 10.6 K/9
A+:  1-2-0, 8.03 ERA, 1.87 WHIP, 12.1 IP, 8.0 BB/9, 10.2 K/9
AAA:  2-4-0, 5.88 ERA, 1.92 WHIP, 26.0 IP, 9.7 BB/9, 11.1 K/9
MLB:  1-0-0, 4.12 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 19.2 IP, 8.2 BB/9, 6.9 K/9

Hill opened the season struggling to throw strikes, walking 18 in 19.2 IP over his first four starts.  After a start where he walked four of the first six batters he faced, the Cubs sent him to AAA.  He continued to have trouble finding the plate and also suffered from muscle strains.  Chicago eventually sent Hill to rookie ball and then high A.  He missed the last month of the season due to back soreness.

2009
A+:  0-1-0, 3.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
AAA:  1-1-0, 1.35 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 13.1 IP, 6.1 BB/9, 9.5 K/9
MLB:  3-3-0, 7.80 ERA, 1.87 WHIP, 57.2 IP, 6.2 BB/9, 7.2 K/9

In February, the Cubs sent Hill to Baltimore for cash.  He went through an injury-plaged season.  He missed time with an elbow injury, suffered in spring training.  He ultimately missed much of the season due to elbow and shoulder issues, and shoulder surgery put an end to it in early August.  The Orioles outrighted Hill after the season, he elected free agency and he signed a minor league deal with the Cards.

2010
AAA (StL):  4-3-0, 4.30 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 46.0 IP, 5.9 BB/9, 9.2 K/9
AAA (Bos):  3-1-0, 3.74 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 53.0 IP, 4.9 BB/9, 9.3 K/9
MLB (Bos):  1-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 2.3 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 6.8 K/9

Hill pitched in AAA for St. Louis until the end of June, when he opted out of his contract.  He signed a minor league deal the same day, with Boston.  After pitching most of the rest of the season in AAA for Boston, Hill got called up in mid-September.  The Red Sox outrighted Hill after the season and he became a free agent, but he signed another minor league deal with Boston.

2011
AAA:  1-0-1, 1.13 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 16.0 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 10.1 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 8.0 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 13.5 K/9

Hill opened the season in AAA and spent the season’s first month in AAA.  Eventually, the Red Sox called him up and used him strictly in relief.  Hill missed the second half of the season with an elbow sprain, which resulted in Tommy John surgery.  Hill became a free agent after the season and Boston signed him to another minor league deal.

2012
R:  0-1-0, 13.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 1.1 IP, 13.5 BB/9, 20.3 K/9
A:  0-0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 2.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 22.5 K/9
A+:  0-0-0,  0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, 4.0 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 18.0 K/9
AA: 0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
AAA:  1-0-0, 1.13 ERA, 0.63 WHIP, 8.0 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 11.3 K/9
MLB:  1-0-0, 1.83 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 19.2 IP, 5.0 BB/9, 9.6 K/9

Boston added Hill back to the 40-man roster in February and he returned from rehab at the end of April.  Once in the majors, he pitched strictly in relief, but he went out a week into June with a forearm strain.  Following rehab, Hill returned to Boston for the month of September.  He became a free agent again after the season and signed a minor league deal with Cleveland.

2013
MLB:  1-2-0, 6.28 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 38.2 IP, 6.8 BB/9, 11.9 K/9

Cleveland called Hill up during spring training and he spent the entire season in the majors.  He appeared in 63 games, but only worked 38.2 innings, as the Indians utilized him as a lefty specialist.  He wasn’t effective, mainly due to poor control.  After the season, he became a free agent again and signed another minor league deal with Boston.

2014
AAA (Bos):  3-3-2, 3.23 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 39.0 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 10.4 K/9
AAA (NYY):  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 4.0 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 22.5 K/9
MLB (LAA):  0-0-0, inf ERA, — WHIP, 0.0 IP, — BB/9, — K/9
MLB (NYY):  0-0-0, 1.69 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 5.1 IP, 5.1 BB/9, 15.2 K/9

Hill spent three months in AAA with Boston, and then the Red Sox sent him for cash to the Angels, who immediately called him up.  Hill was with the Angels for only a week.  He got into two games and failed to retire any of the four batters he faced.  The Angels released him and he signed a minor league deal with the Yankees.  They called him up in early August, then designated him for assignment at the end of the month, only to call him up again several days later.  Hill pitched strictly in relief all year.  After the season he became a free agent again and signed a minor league deal with Washington.

2015
AAA (Wash):  2-2-0, 2.91 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 21.2 IP, 8.7 BB/9, 13.3 K/9
AAA (Bos):  3-2-0, 2.78 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 32.1 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 8.1 K/9
MLB (Bos):  2-1-0, 1.55 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, 29.0 IP, 1.6 BB/9, 11.2 K/9
IND:  1-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.46 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 17.2 K/9

The Nationals sent Hill to AAA, where he pitched in relief while struggled with his control.  The Nationals released him in late June and he caught on with Long Island of the independent Atlantic League.  He made two starts there, then signed a minor league deal with Boston in mid-August.  The Sox called him up in early September and he made four outstanding starts with them.  Hill became a free agent after the season and signed a major league deal with Oakland.

2016
A+ (Oak):  0-0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 18.0 K/9
MLB (Oak):  9-3-0, 2.25 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 76.0 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 10.7 K/9
MLB (LAD):  3-2-0, 1.83 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 34.1 IP, 1.3 BB/9, 10.2 K/9

Hill opened the season in the Oakland rotation.  He missed most of the month of June  with a groin injury.  Missed most of August with a blister.  Hill returned at the beginning of July, but after two more games the A’s traded him to the Dodgers.  Hill pitched in a starting role with both the A’s and Dodgers and did well at both stops.  After the season, he became a free agent and then signed a three-year, $48M contract with the Dodgers.

2017
A+:  1-1-0, 6.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 5.2 IP, 6.4 BB/9, 7.9 K/9
MLB:  12-8-0, 3.32 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 135.2 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 11.0 K/9

Hill stayed in the Dodgers’ rotation, other than Missing a month with a blister, and had a very strong season.  He had very strong walk and K rates and opponents managed just a .639 OPS against him.

2018
A+:  0-1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 4.2 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 19.3 K/9
MLB:  11-5-0, 3.66 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 132.2 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 10.2 K/9

Hill had a nearly identical season to the one before.  That included more injuries, as he missed about six weeks altogether with finger injuries.

2019
A+:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, 4.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 18.0 K/9
MLB:  4-1-0, 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 58.2 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 11.0 K/9

Injuries cost Hill a lot more of his final contract year and he made just 14 starts for the Dodgers.  He missed most of the first month with a knee sprain, then missed most of the second half with a forearm strain.  When he did pitch, he was as effective as ever.  After the season he became a free agent and signed a one-year deal with Minnesota.

2020
MLB:  2-2-0, 3.03 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 38.2 IP, 4.0 BB/9, 7.2 K/9

In the pandemic season, Hill made only eight starts for the Twins.  He continued to be very effective, although his walk and K rates slipped considerably.  After the season, he signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay.

2021
MLB (TB):  6-4-0, 3.87 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 95.1 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 8.6 K/9
MLB (NYM):  1-4-0, 3.84 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 63.1 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 8.4 K/9

With the Rays, Hill continued pitching well through 19 starts.  In July, the Rays traded him to the Mets and he made another 12 starts there.  His K rate appeared to settle in at a lower level than in most of his career.  After the season he signed with the Red Sox.

2022
AA:  0-0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 15.0 K/9
MLB:  8-7-0, 4.27 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 124.1 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 7.9 K/9

With Boston, Hill continued much along the same lines as the previous two years.  He missed July with a sprained knee.  He finished the season well, with a 2.36 ERA in his last five starts.

Hill’s stuff has been less dominant the last few years than it was for most of his career, but he’s still been effective.  There’s obviously a risk with a 43-year-old player, but Hill is aging very slowly.  The Pirates no doubt will be hoping for a good first half so they can trade him for prospects at the deadline.