Name a Major League Baseball team, and chances are you highlighted one of the many teams Rich Hill has pitched for throughout his 20-year career. At 45 years old, Twins fans may have forgotten that Hill had a run in the Minnesota Twins' rotation during the shortened 2020 season. In 8 starts for the Twins in 2020, he posted a 3.03 ERA in 38.2 innings pitched. Five years later, Hill is still pitching and looking for another chapter at the Major League level.
Despite his age and career longevity, Hill is still pitching as he signed a minor-league deal with the Kansas City Royals earlier this season. In what has become the standard for established veterans working on minor-league deals, Hill has an opt-out in his contract with the Royals that can go into effect as early as June 15. As Robert Murray of FanSided points out, if it's not with the Royals, there likely will be interest in Hill from other teams.
Across 4 minor-league starts this season, Hill has an ERA of 3.32 with 23 strikeouts and only 3 walks. If anything, it's a sign that Hill is likely capable of still getting outs at the Major League level.
Rich Hill could be a surprising option for the Twins
As it turns out, a reunion with the Twins is not all that crazy to rule out. With Pablo López out for the next 8-12 weeks and Zebby Matthews also sidelined for the next few weeks, the Twins need their rotation. While the larger need will have to be addressed at the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline, the Twins could turn to Hill in the interim if he does opt out of his deal with the Royals. Considering his poor showing on Tuesday night, giving up 6 runs in less than 5 innings of work, Simeon Woods Richardson did not make a compelling case to stay in the rotation.
Hill's last appearance at the Major League level was with the Boston Red Sox last season. In 4 starts with the Red Sox, Hill posted a 4.91 ERA. Far from the pitcher he once was, but if he's capable of getting outs, the Twins should at least keep an eye on the veteran.