Even if you are 5 innings 10K, 147km and 45 years old, the 14th team to beat the ML promotion time on the 23rd

Jul 22, 2025

Even if you are 5 innings 10K, 147km and 45 years old, the 14th team to beat the ML promotion time on the 23rd
Rich Hill took the mound in the Major League in August last year when he was with the Boston Red Sox. AP Yonhap News



Even if you are 5 innings 10K, 147km and 45 years old, the 14th team to beat the ML promotion time on the 23rd
Triple-A Omaha left-hander Rich Hill under Kansas City started against Toledo on the 14th (Korea time) and is preparing to pitch. Photo = MiLB.TV Capture
The oldest player this season will soon appear in the Major League. The main character is Rich Hill, a left-hander who plays in the Kansas City Royals minor league.

MLB.com said on the 22nd (Korea time) 'According to a source, Kansas City will soon promote veteran left-hander Rich Hill to the Major League. The club is yet to confirm this,' the report said.

He added, `If Hill takes the mound as early as tomorrow against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, he will tie Edwin Jackson's record for the most team players in history.'




Hill, who was born in March 1980, signed a minor league contract with Kansas City last winter and burned his willingness to extend his active career. However, he failed to make the major league roster and is currently throwing as a member of Triple-A Omaha Stormchasers for the season in the minor league rookie league.

He made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs in 2005 and played for the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, 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. Kansas City is the 14th team.

Even if you are 5 innings 10K, 147km and 45 years old, the 14th team to beat the ML promotion time on the 23rd
Rich Hill 2023 during the San Diego Padres. AP Yonhap News
He is 4-4 with a 5.36 ERA, a 0.264 hit rate and a 1.62 WHIP in 9 games as a starter for Triple-A this season and has thrown 42 innings. He gave up 25 walks and struck out 48. The fastball speed is up to 91.2 miles (146.8 kilometers) and an average of 88.5 miles (142.4 kilometers). He also has a steady ability to use breaking balls such as curves, cutters, sweepers, and sinkers.




Hill draws attention by setting a record that will go down in recent history. He started the home game against Toledo Mudhens (under the Detroit Tigers) on the 14th and struck out 10 in five innings.

It is the first time in both the major and minor leagues that a pitcher over the age of 45 has struck out in double digits in a game since surprised Ryan. Ryan had 12 strikeouts in seven ⅔ against the Oakland Athletics on August 7, 1992, when he was a member of the Texas Rangers.

When setting the record, Hill was 45 years, 4 months and 2 days, and Ryan was 45 years, 6 months and 6 days.




Hill has blossomed since his mid-30s. He had a 4.72 ERA until the 34-year-old season, and threw 505 innings until the 35-40 season with a 2.92 ERA and 584 strikeouts. He has established himself as a starting pitcher until 2022, but was expected to retire last year with only four appearances due to relief in the second half of last year in Boston after showing his limit with a 5.41 ERA in 32 games in 2023.

It is not known what position he took at Kansas City this time, but Kansas City is expected to give Hill a rotation position as Michael Lorenzen is on the injured list with an injured abdominal muscle.

Hill pitched in 1,409 innings in 386 games (248 starts) in his 20-year MLB career, with a 90-74 record, 4.01 ERA, and 1428 strikeouts.

He has never won a Cy Young Award vote and played only one regulation innings in the 2007 Cubs. It can be said that he has been steadily doing his part, but he did not command the mound as a superstar.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.