MLB

MLB Pitching ‘Specialist’ Hill on Standby for Possible Season No. 22 Assignment

When Rich Hill debuted for the Chicago Cubs in 2005, the average price of an MLB ticket was $21.17. In 2026, the cost is $45.30.
MLB Pitching ‘Specialist’ Hill on Standby for Possible Season No. 22 Assignment
Rich Hill #35 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago on July 22, 2025. Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images
Donald Laible
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Rich Hill has a reason to watch his phone closely.

At the ripe old baseball age of 45, the Kansas City Royals put a call into Hill in 2025. Even with 386 MLB games on his pitching resume for 13 clubs (7 clubs signed Hill after the 2019 season), the American League West club inquired if the Boston native still had bullets left in his seemingly ageless left-throwing arm.

Donald Laible
Donald Laible
Author
Don has covered pro baseball for several decades, beginning in the minor leagues as a radio broadcaster in the NY Mets organization. His Ice Chips & Diamond Dust blog ran from 2012-2020 at uticaod.com. His baseball passion surrounds anything concerning the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and writing features on the players and staff of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Don currently resides in southwest Florida.