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Rich Hill Back in MLB at Age 45

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated Jul 21, 2025 8:42 PM ET

Rich Hill is back in the majors once again, and this time he's making history. The 45-year-old left-hander has been called up by the Kansas City Royals, marking the 14th team of his two-decade career. That ties him with Edwin Jackson for the most teams played for in MLB history.

Hill’s return also makes him the oldest active player in Major League Baseball, passing Justin Verlander, who is 42. He joins a very small group of players currently in the league at 40 or older.

After signing a minor league deal with Kansas City in May, Hill made several starts for Triple-A Omaha. Over nine appearances, he threw 42 innings, posting a 5.36 ERA with 48 strikeouts and 25 walks. The Royals are turning to him for veteran depth and experience.

MLB made the announcement Monday afternoon.

45-year-old Rich Hill is back for his 21st season!

45-year-old Rich Hill is back for his 21st season!

Hill is reportedly being called up by the Royals, per https://t.co/Z3s2EpgF39's @Anne__Rogers. pic.twitter.com/qaubA8v7dA
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2025

Hill could get a start right away, as the Royals need someone to take the ball Tuesday at Wrigley Field against the Cubs. That’s the same team and stadium where he made his MLB debut back in 2005. Twenty years later, he’s still finding ways to compete on the mound.

Last season, Hill made four appearances for the Boston Red Sox and posted a 4.91 ERA. Despite limited opportunities, he never stepped away from the game and stayed ready to pitch.

Over his career, Hill has a 90-74 record in 248 starts. His career ERA is 4.01, with 1,428 strikeouts and 543 walks. His best stretch came from 2016 to 2018, when he won 35 games across three seasons with the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers.

It’s been a tough 2025 season for the Royals. Kansas City entered Monday's game in Chicago with a 48-52 record, sitting fourth in the AL Central and trailing the first-place Detroit Tigers by 12 games. Injuries to Cole Ragans and Michael Lorenzen have left the Royals searching for help in the rotation, and Hill may be the answer, at least for now.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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