Timeless on the mound: Royals turn to 45-year-old Rich Hill for key start

In a move that blends nostalgia with determination, the Kansas City Royals will call up veteran pitcher Rich Hill from Triple-A Omaha to make a major league start on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Royals manager Matt Quatraro confirmed the news following the team's decisive 12–4 win over the Cubs on Monday night.

The start will mark a major milestone in Hill’s remarkable baseball journey. At 45 years old, he will become the oldest active player in Major League Baseball, taking the mound nearly two decades after his big-league debut in the same stadium. Even more impressively, this will be his 21st MLB season—a feat few pitchers achieve. Tuesday’s outing will also tie Edwin Jackson’s all-time MLB record for most franchises played for, with Kansas City becoming Hill’s 14th team.

Hill's story is one of uncommon longevity and resilience. He made his MLB debut with the Cubs in 2005, showing early promise with his curveball-heavy repertoire. Over the years, Hill reinvented himself repeatedly to extend his career—a testament to both his pitching IQ and his work ethic. Despite numerous injuries and stints in the minors, he remained a sought-after arm for teams in need of a veteran presence.

In the 2024 season, Hill appeared briefly for the Boston Red Sox, making four relief outings and posting a 4.91 ERA before being designated for assignment in September. His career has included stops with Baltimore, Cleveland, the Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers, New York Yankees and Mets, Oakland, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, and San Diego, amassing experiences across both leagues and all corners of the country.

Over his career, Hill has logged a 90–74 record, a 4.01 ERA, 1,428 strikeouts, and 543 walks across 1,409 innings in 386 appearances, including 248 starts. He has also delivered in the postseason, maintaining a 3.06 ERA across 11 playoff games, 10 of which were starts.

So far in 2025 with Triple-A Omaha, Hill has shown flashes of the savvy that has defined his career. He has gone 4–4 with a 5.36 ERA across nine starts—numbers that suggest he's still capable of contributing in the big leagues, especially in a rotation seeking depth.

Tuesday’s start will be more than a statistical achievement—it will be a homecoming of sorts. Hill returns to Wrigley Field, the site of his professional beginnings, with the kind of perspective few athletes ever attain. His longevity is rare not just in baseball, but in professional sports, and serves as a reminder that age is merely one factor in a player’s relevance.

For the Royals, the move brings experience to a young pitching staff and adds an inspirational story to their season. For Hill, it offers yet another chapter in a career defined by persistence, adaptability, and love for the game.