Rich Hill is on the verge of making Major League Baseball history, and yes, proving age really is just a number.
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The Kansas City Royals are calling up the 45-year-old left-hander to start Tuesday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Once he takes the mound, Hill will officially tie Edwin Jackson's all-time record by playing for his 14th different MLB team.
Hill, who signed a minor-league deal with the Royals back in May, has quietly kept grinding in Triple-A. He's gone 4-4 with a 5.36 ERA but struck out 10 batters over five innings in his last outing. Kansas City clearly saw enough to give him another shot at the bigs.
Once active, Hill will become the oldest player in the majors. He pitched in four games for the Red Sox last season and posted a 4.01 ERA over 20 MLB seasons. His career has taken him to the Cubs, Orioles, Red Sox, Guardians, Angels, Yankees, A's, Dodgers, Twins, Rays, Mets, Pirates, Padres, and now, Royals.
A former Michigan Wolverine, Hill was drafted three times before signing with Chicago in 2002. He's been an All-Star, a postseason arm, and even made history in heartbreak, as he's the only pitcher to lose a perfect game on a ninth-inning error and lose a no-hitter on a walk-off homer in extras, both in the same 2017 outing.
But now, Hill is chasing a different kind of distinction. As in endurance, longevity, and a record that speaks to his resilience just as much as his stuff.
