Rich Hill, Starting Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates
Date of Birth: 3/11/1980
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts
College: University of Michigan
Rich Hill, starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was first drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1999 but he opted instead to play for the University of Michigan. Two years later, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels and again he didn't sign. He finally signed with the Chicago Cubs in 2002. He pitched in the Cubs' minor league system from 2002 through most of 2005.
Hill joined the Cubs for 10 games as a starter and reliever in 2005. He joined their rotation in 2006, pitching 99.1 innings in 17 games and finishing with a 6-7 record and a 4.17 ERA. The following season was his best one as a starting pitcher. In 2007, he had an 11-8 record, 183 strikeouts to 63 walks, and a 3.92 ERA in a career high 195.0 innings in 32 games (also a career high).
After just 19.2 innings in 5 games in 2008, Hill was sent to the minors. The Cubs traded him to the Baltimore Orioles in February, 2009. He pitched in just 14 games with the Orioles in 2009, finishing with a dismal 7.80 ERA as a starting pitcher.
Hill signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals in January, 2010. The following June, he signed with the Boston Red Sox. That season, he became a relief pitcher, a position he held through 2014.
Hill had Tommy John surgery in 2011 after pitching in just nine games with the Red Sox. He returned for 19.2 innings in 25 games in 2012. He finished with a 1.83 ERA.
In February, 2013, Hill signed with the Cleveland Indians. He pitched 38.2 innings in 63 games with the Indians in 2013 and he had a 6.28 ERA.
Hill returned to the Red Sox on February 1, 2014. After 25 games in the minors, the Red Sox traded him to the Angels on July 1, 2014. He pitched in only 2 games before the Angels released him on July 9th. Five days later, he signed with the New York Yankees and he pitched from their bullpen in 14 games.
Hill signed with the Washington Nationals on February 27, 2015. After 25 games in the minors, the Nationals released him on June 24th. Two months later, on August 14th, he returned once again to the Red Sox. He finished the 2015 season as a starter for Boston, pitching 29.0 innings in 4 games. He had a 1.55 ERA.
Hill signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Oakland Athletics on November 17, 2015. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 1, 2016. He finished the 2016 season with a 2.12 ERA in 14 games with the Athletics and 6 games with the Dodgers. He had 12 wins to 5 losses and 129 strikeouts to 33 walks in 110.1 innings. In the postseason, he pitched 13.0 innings in 3 games and he gave up 11 hits and 5 runs.
Hill and the Dodgers agreed to a three-year, $48 million contract on December 5, 2016. He finished the 2017 season with 12 wins and 8 losses, 166 strikeouts to 49 walks, and a 3.32 ERA in 135.2 innings in 25 games. In the postseason, he pitched 17.2 innings in 4 games and he gave up 13 hits, including 3 home runs, and 5 runs. He struck out 24 batters and walked 8.
Hill spent time on the DL in 2018. He pitched in 25 games and he had 11 wins and 5 losses, 150 strikeouts to 41 walks, and a 3.66 ERA in 132.2 innings. In the postseason, he pitched 16.2 innings in 4 games and he gave up 9 hits and 4 runs. He struck out 17 batters and walked 12, and he had a 2.16 ERA.
Hill spent time on the DL in 2019 with a knee sprain and with a left forearm strain. He finished the season with 4 wins and 1 loss, 72 strikeouts to 18 walks, and a 2.45 ERA in 58.2 innings in 13 games. In the postseason, he pitched 2.2 innings in 1 game and he gave up 2 hits and 1 run. He struck out 2 batters and walked 4, and he had an ERA of 3.38.
Hill became a free agent on October 31, 2019 He signed with the Minnesota Twins on December 31, 2019.
Hill pitched in eight games in 2020. He finished the season with 2 wins and 2 losses, 31 strikeouts to 17 walks, and a 3.03 ERA in 38.2 innings.
Hill elected free agency on October 28, 2020. He signed with the Tampa Bay Rays on February 17, 2021. He was traded to the New York Mets on July 23, 2021. He finished the season with 7 wins and 8 losses, 150 strikeouts to 55 walks, and a 3.86 ERA in 158.2 innings in 19 games with the Rays and 13 games with the Mets.
Hill became a free agent on November 3, 2021. He signed with the Red Sox on December 1st.
Hill became a free agent again on November 6, 2022. He signed with the Pirates on January 5, 2023.
Career pitching statistics for Hill through 2021 include:
- 324 games played
- 1,134.2 innings pitched
- 74-52 win-loss record
- 1,185 strikeouts to 445 walks
- 3.80 ERA
Personal Life
Hill and his wife Caitlin married on November 11, 2007. They have a four-year old son. A second son died on February 24, 2014, at the age of two months from multiple health issues.
Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Rich Hill
ESPN - Rich Hill
Baseball Reference - Rich Hill