Professional career Rich Hill (pitcher)

1 professional career

1.1 chicago cubs

1.1.1 2002–2004
1.1.2 2005 season
1.1.3 2006 season
1.1.4 2007 season
1.1.5 2008 season


1.2 baltimore orioles
1.3 st. louis cardinals
1.4 boston red sox
1.5 cleveland indians
1.6 boston / la angels / new york yankees
1.7 washington / long island
1.8 return boston
1.9 oakland athletics
1.10 los angeles dodgers

professional career
chicago cubs
2002–2004

hill drafted in fourth round of 2002 major league baseball draft chicago cubs , signed on july 10, 2002. had been rated having 1 of best curveballs in draft mechanical , control issues kept him out of rounds. began professional career boise hawks of northwest league, 0–2 8.36 era in 6 games. in 2003 boise 1–6 4.35 era in 14 starts , led northwest league in strikeouts 99. promoted lansing lugnuts of midwest league, 0–1 2.76 era in 15 games (4 starts).

in 2004, assigned daytona cubs of florida state league. 7–6 4.03 era in 28 games (19 starts) , 136 strikeouts. selected baseball america having best curveball in cubs organization.

2005 season

hill began 2005 season west tenn diamond jaxx of southern league. made 10 starts them, 4–3 record , 3.28 era while leading league in strikeouts 90. earned may promotion triple-a iowa cubs of pacific coast league. in 11 games iowa, 6–1 3.60 era , 92 strikeouts. earned milb.com distinctions breakthrough performer of year.

hill made major league debut on june 15, 2005 against florida marlins. pitched 1 inning of relief, giving 2 runs on 3 hits, , did not factor decision. struck out carlos delgado first major league strikeout.

hill s first start on july 25, 2005, subbing oft-injured kerry wood against san francisco giants. once again gave 2 earned runs, lasted 5 innings. game memorable due hill tripping on third-base on way plate after todd walker drive down right-field line. 1 out , cubs down one, walker forced stop @ first base, , jerry hairston, jr. (who behind hill) @ second. hill did not score, , returned third base unhurt. did not factor decision. finished season 0–2 record in 10 games (23  ⁄3 innings) while making 4 starts. era 9.13 , struck out 21 while walking 17.

2006 season

hill pitching chicago cubs in 2006

in 2006, started season in triple-a iowa cubs, called on may 4 start against arizona diamondbacks. gained attention in chicago later in month during cross-town classic chicago white sox. on may 20, hill lost white sox 7–0, , starter in game saw a. j. pierzynski run on cubs catcher michael barrett @ plate in huge collision. hill sent triple-a iowa next day. made 15 starts iowa , 7–1 1.98 era , 135 strikeouts. selected mid-season pacific coast league all-star game, top star, , later selected post-season all-star , baseball america triple-a all-star.

hill returned majors on july 27 start against st. louis cardinals. lasted 3 ⁄3 innings, giving 4 runs on 6 hits – walking three. on august 1, defeated arizona diamondbacks first major league victory, , on august 6, got second win , first win streak. on september 6, hill fanned career high 11 batters in cubs victory on pittsburgh pirates. hill s first complete game , shutout came versus cincinnati reds in game in fanned 10 , allowed 2 hits, on september 16. hill s 2 complete games cg s cubs pitching staff in 2006 season, , 1 of solid contributors in rotation after being called up, posting 6–3 record 2.93 era.

2007 season

hill joined starting rotation of cubs after spring training, , #4 starter in rotation behind carlos zambrano, ted lilly, , jason marquis. pitched against milwaukee brewers first start of 2007 season, throwing perfect game through first 5 innings, , finishing allowing 1 hit, , 1 run on 7 innings pitched. continued excel during april, leading speculate taking on ace in cubs rotation while assembled streak of 18 consecutive innings without earned run.

cubs catcher michael barrett described rich s signature pitch follows.

hill suffered setback in philadelphia, took second loss of season giving 5 runs , left before getting outs in sixth inning. next start in new york city produced similar results posting third loss, , lou piniella pointed control problems. troubles continued in san diego during next start, picked third consecutive loss 5–1 padres , gave 4 home runs. piniella extended analysis of hill s throwing: not same pitcher left spring training. missing spots. of pitches hit out of park, catcher sitting on outside corner , balls inside, might have been outside. s got keep working. s not throwing hard, either, whatever reason.

hill rebounded in next 3 starts, going twenty-one innings , giving 2 earned runs. hill matched career-high eleven strikeouts against braves on june 7, 2007. season 11–8 3.92 era in 32 starts 183 strikeouts.

hill started game 3 of 2007 national league division series against arizona diamondbacks chris young homered off first pitch of game , lasted 3 innings, allowing 6 hits , 3 runs cubs swept in series.

2008 season

hill reworked delivery during spring training in 2008 after initial issues command retained spot in rotation season began. struggled start season, making 5 starts, , 1–0 4.12 era, striking out 15 walking 18. in final start, against st. louis cardinals on may 2, walked 4 of first 6 batters faced , removed in first inning. on may 3, optioned triple-a iowa in order control figured out.

hill continued have control problems in minors , shut down stiff on may 17. suffered various muscle strains rest of season, making 13 starts in minors iowa, daytona , arizona league cubs, , 4–7 5.85 era , 44 walks. played tigres de aragua of venezuelan winter league after season , 1–2 6.86 era in 9 games (six starts), walking 23 while striking out 16.

baltimore orioles

hill during tenure baltimore orioles in 2009

on february 2, 2009, hill traded baltimore orioles player named later.

hill suffered elbow injury in spring training , began season on disabled list, did not make orioles debut until may 16, 2009 going 5 ⁄3 6 strikeouts , winning pitcher. started 13 games baltimore 3-3 record, 7.80 era, , 46 strikeouts in 57  ⁄3 innings. on july 29, revealed hill had torn labrum in left shoulder, , had been pitching through season. placed on disabled list rest of season , underwent surgery repair labrum on august 8. hill outrighted off 40 man roster on october 30 , elected free agency on november 3.

st. louis cardinals

on january 26, 2010, hill signed minor league contract st. louis cardinals invite spring training. general manager john mozeliak said hill recovered surgery , expected compete fifth starter job. hill struggled in spring training games, frustrating him , beaten out jaime garcía in battle fifth starter spot.

hill assigned triple-a memphis redbirds had 4–3 record in 23 games (46 ip) plus 4.30 era , 47 strikeouts. made 4 starts , used out of bullpen first time in career. in june of year, opted out of contract st. louis.

boston red sox

on june 30, 2010, hill signed minor league contract boston red sox. assigned triple-a pawtucket red sox. appeared in 19 games them, 6 of starts, , had 3–1 record , 3.74 era. hill called red sox major league roster on september 13 , made debut them reliever against seattle mariners following day, retiring 1 batter faced , recording win. appeared in 6 games rest of season, working 4 innings out of bullpen, striking out three, walking 1 , allowing no runs score. @ end of season, outrighted minors , became free agent on november 6.

the red sox re-signed hill minor league contract invitation spring training on december 16, 2010. hill transitioned sidewinder pitcher during spring training , out performed other relievers trying make roster optioned pawtucket start season. appeared in 10 games in minors, pitching 16 innings , had 1.12 era 1 save. contract purchased red sox , called majors on may 5.

on may 29, hill injured left throwing elbow , on june 9, underwent tommy john surgery repair torn ulnar collateral ligament. in 9 games red sox in 2011, hill pitched 8 innings, striking out 12, walking 3 , giving no earned runs. on december 12, hill non-tendered, , became free agent.

rich hill on may 21, 2012

on december 30, 2011, red sox again re-signed hill minor-league contract included invitation spring training. recovery progressed ahead of schedule , made first rehab appearance in minors, greenville drive, on april 7, 2012. made 16 minor league rehab appearances, across 5 different levels, , had 2.20 era 27 strikeouts , 5 walks. rejoined red sox roster on april 27. experienced renewed soreness in elbow on june 10 , placed on disabled list. diagnosed strained flexor muscle , didn t rejoin roster until september 1. overall, appeared in 25 games red sox in 2012, 1.83 era in 19  ⁄3 innings , 21 strikeouts. non-tendered on november 30 , became free agent.

cleveland indians

on february 7, 2013, hill signed minor league deal invite big league spring training cleveland indians. terry francona, had been hill s manager during time red sox, manager in cleveland , impressed stuff , comeback injury. on march 11, indians purchased contract , added him 40-man roster. made opening day roster relief pitcher.

over 2013 mlb season, appeared in career high 63 games, working 38  ⁄3 innings , 1–2 6.28 era. struck out 51 batters while walking 29. average inherited runners stranded rate 11.88. among leaders in inherited runners stranded 51. became free agent @ conclusion of season.

boston / la angels / new york yankees

hill signed minor league deal return red sox on february 9, 2014. deal included invitation spring training. hill reported late camp after family emergency, caused him fall behind other relievers in camp , did not make opening day roster. assigned pawtucket had 3.23 era in 25 games.

hill traded los angeles angels of anaheim cash considerations on july 1, 2014. appeared in 2 games angels, both parts of doubleheader played day. in first game, allowed single , walked 2 batters , in second game, walked 1 batter faced , threw wild pitch. designated assignment few days later, without appearing in game, , released on july 11.

on july 17, 2014, hill signed minor league deal new york yankees , assigned triple scranton/wilkes-barre railriders. railriders, appeared in 4 games , did not allow run. yankees promoted him major leagues on august 5. designated assignment on august 29, re-added roster on september 2. overall, appeared in 14 games, working total of 5  ⁄3 innings 1.69 era.

washington / long island

on february 27, 2015, hill signed minor league deal washington nationals included invitation spring training. though signed late after camp had started, manager matt williams said intended have him compete bullpen spot on team. despite pitching in exhibition games, hill did not make opening day roster , reassigned triple-a syracuse chiefs on april 4. expressed disappointment decision. appeared in 25 games chiefs, working 21  ⁄3 innings 2–2 record , 2.91 era. released nationals on june 24 after exercising opt out clause in contract.

on july 28, 2015, after not receiving other offers, hill signed long island ducks of atlantic league of professional baseball. made 2 starts ducks. on august 9, struck out 14 batters in 6 innings against camden riversharks, tying franchise record. pitched 11 innings ducks on 2 starts, 21 strikeouts, 3 walks , 2 hits , no runs allowed.

return boston

hill signed minor league deal red sox on august 14, 2015. made 5 starts pawtucket , 3–2 2.78 era. hill brought pawtucket on september 8 , made first major league start since 2009 on september 13, giving 1 hit on 7 innings, while striking out 10 batters , walking one. on september 25, hill pitched complete game two-hitter while striking out 10 batters third consecutive start. in 4 starts red sox, 2–1 1.55 era , 36 strikeouts.

oakland athletics

on november 17, 2015, hill agreed one-year deal oakland athletics $6 million. after spring training, hill named fifth starter, ended starting on opening day after planned starter sonny gray hospitalized case of food poisoning. athletics, hill had 2.25 era , record of 9-3 in 14 starts. hill named american league pitcher of month may 2016 after posting 5–1 record 2.13 era , 37 strikeouts in 6 starts.

los angeles dodgers

on august 1, 2016, athletics traded hill , josh reddick los angeles dodgers grant holmes, jharel cotton, , frankie montas. made debut dodger on august 24, pitching 6 scoreless innings , earning win in 1-0 game against san francisco giants. on september 10 against miami marlins, hill pitched 7 perfect innings before replaced relief pitcher. first time in major league history manager had pulled pitcher late in game perfect game in reach. in 6 starts dodgers, 3–2 1.83 era.

hill started second game of 2016 national league division series against washington nationals, pitching 3 innings before allowing three-run home run jose lobaton in fourth inning of became 5–2 loss. came pitch on short rest in deciding game five, pitching 2  ⁄3 innings in game dodgers won 4–3. in game 3 of 2016 national league championship series, hill allowed 2 hits in 6 innings in dodgers victory on chicago cubs. however, cubs came , beat dodgers in 6 games win series.

on december 5, 2016, dodgers re-signed hill three-year, $48 million, contract. hill came down blister on left middle finger, issue had bothered him throughout previous season. making first start of season against san diego padres on april 5, 2017, hill pitched 5 innings, left game lingering blister on finger. 2 days later, on april 7, hill placed on 10-day disabled list. on april 17, hill again placed on 10-day disabled list due same finger blister lingering, marking second time in 11 days hill went on disabled list. returned lineup earn national league pitcher of month honors in july 4–0 record, 1.45 era , 40 strikeouts against 5 walks in 5 starts.

on august 23, 2017, against pittsburgh pirates, hill pitching perfect game through 8 innings until fielding error logan forsythe in ninth. remained in game tenth inning no-hitter ended walk-off home run josh harrison, first extra-innings walk-off home run break no hitter (and second walk-off hit, following harvey haddix in 1959). first perfect game broken ninth-inning error in mlb history, , hill became first pitcher since lefty leifield of 1906 pittsburg pirates lose decision despite throwing @ least 9 innings 1 or fewer hits , no walks allowed. 2017 season, 12–8 3.32 era in 25 starts. hill pitched in 1 game in 2017 nlds, allowing 2 runs in 4 innings , in 1 start in 2017 nlcs, limited cubs 1 run on 3 hits in 5 innings, while striking out eight. in 2 starts in 2017 world series, allowed total of 2 runs on 7 hits in 8 ⁄3 innings 12 strikeouts.