Hill DFA'd by Royals, ending tenure with his 14th team
This browser does not support the video element.
KANSAS CITY – Will there be a 15th team?
Left-hander Rich Hill, who tied an MLB record by pitching for his 14th team, was designated for assignment by the Royals on Tuesday, with Kansas City needing a fresh arm after Hill managed just four innings a day earlier against the Braves and an already taxed bullpen had to cover five frames.
To take his place on the roster, right-hander Thomas Hatch was recalled from Triple-A Omaha. Hatch will be in the bullpen on Tuesday night, available to pitch, but if he’s not needed, he could be used as a starter or bulk reliever on Wednesday, as Kansas City has not announced a starter for the series finale.
The Royals have all of their high-leverage relievers available on Tuesday night and are hoping for a deep start from starter Seth Lugo, but they have several arms they’d likely want to stay away from after heavy usage of late. Jonathan Bowlan threw 48 pitches Saturday night and 15 on Monday. Taylor Clarke threw 34 pitches on Saturday and 22 on Monday. Steven Cruz threw 32 pitches on Monday and struggled mightily with command. Sam Long threw 25 pitches on Saturday and 30 on Monday.
After 81 pitches Monday, Hill was not going to be available for the next four days. The Royals have to cover innings in the meantime.
“That’s what drove us to do it,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “The bullpen guys have been used heavily. You got to take care of those guys. We’re going to need them for the next two months to pitch a lot of big innings. And when you got guys who aren’t going to be available, you have to be realistic.”
This browser does not support the video element.
Hill's start on July 22 with the Royals marked the 14th club the veteran had played for in his lengthy career, tying a mark set by right-handed pitcher Edwin Jackson. The 45-year-old Hill also surpassed Gaylord Perry as the oldest player to appear in a game for the Royals.
In two starts with Kansas City, Hill allowed seven runs (five earned) on nine hits over nine innings. For his career, the southpaw has a 90-76 record with a 4.02 ERA.
“The competitiveness, the drive, the desire to still be great at what he does is really inspiring,” Quatraro said of Hill. “He keeps himself in shape. Last night, he lost the feel for his breaking ball a little bit. The walks got up there. But he’s competing like crazy.”
This browser does not support the video element.
There’s a chance Hill clears waivers and elects to stay with the Royals, going back to Triple-A where he started 11 games for Omaha.
To say the Royals’ pitching depth is thin right now is an understatement. They are down to three starters in their big league rotation in Michael Wacha, Noah Cameron, and Lugo, with Kris Bubic (left rotator cuff strain), Cole Ragans (left rotator cuff strain) and Michael Lorenzen (left oblique strain) on the injured list.
This browser does not support the video element.
Bubic is out for the rest of the year, while Ragans has yet to throw off the mound but is close. Lorenzen threw a bullpen on Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium and will have a four-up modified simulated game (sans hitters) scheduled for Thursday if he recovers well enough from the bullpen. The righty would still likely need a rehab assignment after that.
Hatch, 30, signed a Minor League contract with the Royals this past offseason and last appeared in a Major League game on Sept. 16, 2023, with Pittsburgh. He spent last season with the Hiroshima Carp of Japan.
In 18 starts for Omaha this year, Hatch has a 4.22 ERA, but in his last five starts, he owns a 1.95 ERA.