Royals sign 45-year-old MLB veteran Rich Hill to minor league deal

Jaylon Thompson, The Kansas City Star on May 13, 2025

Published in Baseball

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HOUSTON — The Kansas City Royals are always in search of quality pitching. On Tuesday, the Royals landed an experienced veteran in left-hander Rich Hill.

Hill, 45, signed a minor league deal with the Royals. He will report to the Royals' spring training complex in Surprise, Ariz., before eventually joining Triple-A Omaha.

“We were looking for some starter depth,” Royals assistant general manager Scott Sharp said. “Dave Wallace, who is an advisor with us, knows Rich well. He mentioned that (Hill) was throwing and in a good spot. He got up to 100 pitches in some lives and bullpens. And we have a lot of people in the organization that know Rich. He was willing to go to Triple-A and it was a good fit.”

The Royals have followed Hill throughout his MLB career. Hill has pitched for the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres.

Last season, Hill pitched 3 2/3 innings with the Red Sox. It was his fourth stint with the organization after a delayed start. Hill explored retirement as he coached his son’s youth team.

Hill appeared in a relief role with the Red Sox. He posted a 4.91 ERA in four games before being designated for assignment.

A few Royals have experience with Hill. Royals manager Matt Quatraro was the Rays' bench coach during Hill’s tenure in Tampa.

“I love Rich,” Quatraro said. “I was with him for a year in Tampa. It’s remarkable that he is still pitching and that he still has the drive to want to do it and go to Triple-A to continue to compete. That’s one thing about him. He is the ultimate competitor and no one wants to win more than that guy.”

Hill posted a 3.87 ERA in 19 starts with the Rays in 2021. He also pitched alongside Royals starters Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha. They were all a part of the Padres organization during the 2023 season.

The Royals have a talented starting rotation. The group includes Lugo, Wacha, Cole Ragans, Kris Bubic and Michael Lorenzen. Additionally, KC has Alec Marsh, Kyle Wright and Noah Cameron as available depth.

Both Marsh and Wright are working back from offseason injuries. Hill could be considered additional depth. He has a wealth of experience and has shown the ability to be a starter or reliever in his career.

“He’s somebody with that experience level and knows how to navigate games,” Sharp said.

For now, Hill is granted an opportunity to join the Royals organization. He will likely stretch out in Surprise and then be integrated within the Omaha Storm Chasers pitching staff.

In his career, Hill owns a 90-74 record with a 4.01 ERA in 386 appearances. He was a fourth-round selection in the 2002 MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs. The Royals are his 14th organization as he enters his 21st season.

“There aren’t too many people that do that,” Quatraro said. “For him to continue to want to play, that’s his love for the game and his love for the competition aspect.”