Rich Hill

Richard Joseph Hill Bio

Richard Joseph Hill, nicknamed “Dick Mountain,” is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for fourteen different teams, tying him with Edwin Jackson for the most teams played for in league history. Hill has gained recognition for his unique left-handed pitching style and remarkable longevity in professional baseball, with a career spanning from 2005 through 2025. He became the oldest active MLB player during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, demonstrating sustained excellence well into his forties.

Early Life and Background

Hill was born on March 11, 1980, in Milton, Massachusetts. Though naturally right-handed, Hill became a left-handed pitcher thanks to his older brother John, who was a state champion gymnast and performed in the closing ceremonies of the 1992 Summer Olympics. Hill played for Milton High School’s varsity baseball team as a freshman, becoming one of only four players in the school’s history to accomplish that feat.

Despite being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 36th round of the 1999 MLB draft, Hill chose to pursue higher education and played college baseball for the Michigan Wolverines. As a freshman, he struggled with a 9.23 earned run average in 13 games. However, he improved significantly as a sophomore, posting a 3-5 record with a 3.84 ERA in 15 games, including one complete game shutout. He also played for the Chatham A’s of the Cape Cod Baseball League during the summers of 2000 and 2001. In his junior season at Michigan in 2002, Hill was 3-7 with a 3.55 ERA in 15 games, including eight complete games and two shutouts, striking out 104 batters while walking only 38.

Path to Major League Baseball

Hill was drafted three times before signing with an MLB organization: by the Cincinnati Reds in 1999, by the Anaheim Angels in the seventh round in 2001, and finally by the Chicago Cubs in the fourth round of the 2002 MLB draft. He signed with the Cubs on July 10, 2002, receiving a $302,000 signing bonus. Baseball evaluators noted Hill had one of the best curveballs in that draft class, though mechanical and control issues prevented him from being selected in earlier rounds.

He began his professional career with the Boise Hawks of the Northwest League, where he went 0-2 with an 8.36 ERA in six games. In 2003, he improved to 1-6 with a 4.35 ERA in 14 starts and led the league in strikeouts with 99. He earned promotions through the minor leagues, playing for the Lansing Lugnuts and Daytona Cubs before reaching Triple-A Iowa in 2005. His breakthrough came with Iowa, where he posted a 6-1 record with a 3.60 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 11 games, earning Milb.com distinctions as breakthrough performer of the year.

Richard Joseph Hill Career

Chicago Cubs (2005-2008)

Hill made his MLB debut on June 15, 2005, against the Florida Marlins, pitching one inning of relief and striking out Carlos Delgado for his first major league strikeout. His first start came on July 25, 2005, against the San Francisco Giants. He finished that season with an 0-2 record in 10 games with a 9.13 ERA.

The 2006 season marked Hill’s breakthrough at the major league level. After struggling early, he returned to the majors on July 27 and found his rhythm. He earned his first major league victory on August 1 against the Arizona Diamondbacks and recorded his first complete game shutout on September 16 against the Cincinnati Reds, striking out 10 batters while allowing just two hits. Hill finished 2006 with a 6-3 record and 2.93 ERA in his time with the Cubs. In 2007, he posted an 11-8 record with a 3.92 ERA and 183 strikeouts in 32 starts, serving as the fourth starter in the Cubs Opening Day rotation behind Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, and Jason Marquis. He started Game 3 of the 2007 National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. His 2008 season was cut short by control problems and injuries, including a back strain that landed him on the disabled list in May.

Journeyman Years (2009-2015)

Hill was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on February 2, 2009. He made his Orioles debut on May 16 and started 13 games with a 3-3 record before a torn labrum in his left shoulder ended his season. He underwent surgery to repair the labrum on August 8 and was outrighted off the 40-man roster that October. He signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in January 2010 but struggled in spring training and spent the season at Triple-A Memphis before opting out of his contract.

Hill joined the Boston Red Sox organization in June 2010 and appeared in six games for the major league team that September. He underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2011 and returned to pitch for the Red Sox in 2012. Over the next several years, Hill bounced between organizations, playing for the Cleveland Indians in 2013, returning to the Red Sox in 2014, briefly joining the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees, and spending time with the Washington Nationals organization. In 2015, he played for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League before returning to the Red Sox in September. In four starts for Boston that month, he was 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA and 36 strikeouts, signaling his successful transition back to a starting role.

Oakland Athletics Breakthrough (2016)

Hill signed with the Oakland Athletics on November 17, 2015. After spring training, he was named the fifth starter but ended up starting on Opening Day after planned starter Sonny Gray was hospitalized with food poisoning. With the Athletics, Hill had a remarkable 2.25 ERA and a 9-3 record in 14 starts. He was named American League Pitcher of the Month for May after posting a 5-1 record with a 2.13 ERA and 37 strikeouts in six starts. On August 1, 2016, the Athletics traded Hill and Josh Reddick to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitching prospects.

Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2016-2019)

Hill made his Dodgers debut on August 24, 2016, pitching six scoreless innings and earning the win in a 1-0 game against the San Francisco Giants. His most memorable moment with the Dodgers came on September 10, 2016, against the Miami Marlins, when he pitched seven perfect innings before being removed from the game. It was the first time in major league history that a manager had pulled a pitcher that late in the game with a perfect game within reach. In six starts for the Dodgers that season, he was 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA. He pitched in the postseason, including Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against his former team, the Chicago Cubs.

On December 5, 2016, the Dodgers re-signed Hill to a three-year, $48 million contract. The 2017 season featured one of the most dramatic games in baseball history. On August 23, 2017, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Hill pitched a perfect game through eight innings until a fielding error by Logan Forsythe in the ninth inning. He remained in the game for the tenth inning, but his no-hitter ended by a walk-off home run by Josh Harrison. This game produced multiple historic firsts: the first extra-innings walk-off home run to break up a no-hitter, the first perfect game broken up by a ninth-inning error, and Hill became the first pitcher since Lefty Leifield in 1906 to lose a decision despite throwing at least nine innings and allowing one or fewer hits and no walks. For the 2017 season, he was 12-8 with a 3.32 ERA in 25 starts. He also pitched in the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astros, allowing only two runs in 8 2/3 innings with 12 strikeouts. Hill won the Tony Conigliaro Award in 2019 for his perseverance throughout his career.

Later Career (2020-Present)

Hill signed with the Minnesota Twins on December 31, 2019, and made his debut on July 29, 2020. He appeared in eight games, compiling a 2-2 record with a 3.03 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings. On February 17, 2021, he signed with the Tampa Bay Rays and had a career-high 13 strikeouts on May 25. He earned American League Pitcher of the Month honors for May and finished the season 6-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 19 starts. On July 23, 2021, he was traded to the New York Mets and made 12 starts with a 1-4 record and 3.84 ERA to finish the year.

Hill returned to the Boston Red Sox on December 1, 2021. He opened the season in the starting rotation and made 26 starts, posting an 8-7 record with a 4.27 ERA and 109 strikeouts. On January 5, 2023, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and went 7-10 with a 4.76 ERA in 22 starts. On August 1, 2023, he was traded to the San Diego Padres, where he went 1-4 with an 8.23 ERA in 10 games. Hill returned to Boston for a fifth stint on August 18, 2024. He made a relief appearance on August 29, becoming the oldest active MLB player and the only player to have played in each of the 20 MLB seasons from 2005 through 2024.

Kansas City Royals (2025)

On May 13, 2025, Hill agreed to a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. He was called up on July 22 and made his season debut as the starting pitcher against the Cubs, tying Edwin Jackson for the most teams played for in league history with 14. Hill became the 18th pitcher to start a game at age 45 or older and the sixth in the 21st century, joining Jamie Moyer, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Tim Wakefield, and Bartolo Colon. In two starts for Kansas City, he logged an 0-2 record and 5.00 ERA with four strikeouts over nine innings of work. He was designated for assignment by the Royals on July 29 and elected free agency after clearing waivers on August 1.

Driving Style and Strengths

Hill is known for his exceptional left-handed curveball, which Cubs catcher Michael Barrett described as “electric” and noted was nearly unhittable when Hill was at his best. His ability to command this pitch has been a hallmark throughout his career, helping him find success despite periods of control inconsistency. Hill has demonstrated versatility throughout his career, transitioning between starting and relief roles, though he found his greatest success as a starter with the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers. His durability and ability to recover from injuries have allowed him to extend his career well beyond typical MLB longevity.

Notable Events and Milestones

Hill’s August 23, 2017 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates stands as one of the most unique in baseball history. He became the only pitcher in MLB history with a perfect game broken up by a ninth-inning fielding error and with a no-hitter broken up in extra innings by a walk-off home run in the same game. He has earned both American League and National League Pitcher of the Month honors, demonstrating his effectiveness across different leagues. Hill won the Tony Conigliaro Award in 2019, recognizing his perseverance through numerous injuries and setbacks throughout his career. Internationally, he was selected to the United States national baseball team for the 2024 WBSC Premier12 tournament and was named to the All-World Team as the best starting pitcher after allowing one unearned run and striking out 14 in 10 1/3 innings.

Richard Joseph Hill Career Wins

Throughout his MLB career spanning from 2005 to 2025, Hill compiled a win-loss record of 90-76 with a 4.02 earned run average and 1,432 career strikeouts. His career includes moments of exceptional dominance, particularly during his time with the Oakland Athletics in 2016 and Los Angeles Dodgers from 2016 to 2019.

Los Angeles Dodgers Highlights

Hill’s tenure with the Dodgers represented the peak of his career. In 2016 with Oakland and Los Angeles combined, he went 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA. With the Dodgers specifically in 2016, he was 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA in six starts. His 2017 season saw him go 12-8 with a 3.32 ERA in 25 starts, including his historic August 23 game. In the postseason that year, he pitched effectively against the Cubs in the NLCS and the Astros in the World Series. His 2018 season was interrupted by recurring blister issues, but he finished 11-5 with a 3.66 ERA and started Game 4 of the World Series. In 2019, he finished 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 13 starts before his injury.

Oakland Athletics Highlights

Hill’s 2016 season with the Oakland Athletics was a breakthrough year. He was named American League Pitcher of the Month for May after posting a 5-1 record with a 2.13 ERA and 37 strikeouts in six starts. Overall with the Athletics, he had a 2.25 ERA and a record of 9-3 in 14 starts. This performance established him as one of the top left-handed pitchers in the American League and earned him his lucrative contract with the Dodgers.

Other Wins and Performances

Hill’s early career breakthrough came with the Chicago Cubs in 2006, where he went 6-3 with a 2.93 ERA after being called back up from the minors. He finished the 2007 season 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA and 183 strikeouts. His remarkable return to prominence continued with the Boston Red Sox in September 2015, where he went 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA and 36 strikeouts in four starts. With the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021, he went 6-4 with a 3.87 ERA and earned American League Pitcher of the Month honors for May.

Richard Joseph Hill Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Hill comes from an athletic family. His older brother John was a state champion gymnast and performed in the closing ceremonies of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. This early exposure to high-level athletics may have contributed to Hill’s own competitive drive and perseverance throughout his demanding baseball career.

Personal Life

Hill married Caitlin McClellan, a nurse, on November 11, 2007. The couple had two sons, Brice and Brooks. Unfortunately, their younger son Brooks died in February 2014 at just two months of age from lissencephaly and congenital nephrotic syndrome. Hill wrote about this tragedy in 2019 and donated $575,000 to Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, where Brooks received treatment, as part of a campaign that has raised almost $1 million for research into rare genetic diseases. In recognition of his son Brice, Hill wore the name “Brice” on his jersey during MLB Players Weekend in 2017. The couple resides in Milton, Massachusetts, when Hill is not playing baseball.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked another remarkable chapter in Hill’s storied career. After signing with the Kansas City Royals organization in May, he continued his unprecedented run of playing in consecutive MLB seasons. His July 22 debut for the Royals against the Chicago Cubs tied Edwin Jackson’s record of 14 different MLB teams played for and made him the 18th pitcher to start a game at age 45 or older. Despite going 0-2 with a 5.00 ERA in his two starts, Hill demonstrated he could still compete at the highest level. He was designated for assignment on July 29 and elected free agency in early August. In a podcast released on January 17, 2026, Hill indicated he would not play in 2026 but stopped short of officially announcing his retirement, leaving the door open for one final chapter in his remarkable career.