Royals designated LHP Rich Hill for assignment

Field Level Media|published: 07/29/2025, 6:07pm EDT

Jul 22, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Rich Hill (35) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The Kansas City Royals designated veteran left-hander Rich Hill for assignment on Tuesday after just two starts for the club.

Hill, 45, pitched for the Royals on July 22 and 28, losing both times and compiling a 5.00 ERA over nine innings.

Hill was the oldest player in the majors and competing in his 21st major league season. His appearances with the Royals allowed him to tie fellow pitcher Edwin Jackson's record by playing for a 14th team.

Before being recalled, Hill made nine starts for Triple-A Omaha this year, going 4-4 with a 5.36 ERA.

Kansas recalled right-hander Thomas Hatch from Omaha in a corresponding move.

Hill also pitched for the Chicago Cubs (2005-08), Baltimore Orioles (2009), Boston Red Sox (2010-12, 2015, 2022, 2024), Cleveland (2013), Los Angeles Angels (2014), New York Yankees (2014), Oakland (2016), Los Angeles Dodgers (2016-19),

Minnesota Twins (2020), Tampa Bay Rays (2021), New York Mets (2021), Pittsburgh Pirates (2023) and San Diego Padres (2023).

His career record is 90-74 with a 4.01 ERA, 543 walks and 1,428 strikeouts in 1,409 innings over 386 games (248 starts). In 13 postseason appearances (12 starts), Hill is 1-2 with a 3.06 ERA.

Hatch, 30, is back in the majors for the first time since 2023 when he split the season with the Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates. He is 4-4 with a 4.96 ERA in 39 appearances (six starts) for the Blue Jays (2020-23) and Pirates.

This season, Hatch is 5-6 with a 4.22 ERA in 18 starts for Omaha. He spent the 2024 season pitching in Japan.

--Field Level Media