The Kansas City Royals are set to call up 45-year-old pitcher Rich Hill from the minors for a start against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, marking the left-hander’s 21st season in Major League Baseball (MLB).
According to ESPN Research, Hill’s start will tie him with Edwin Jackson for the most franchises played for in MLB history, at 14 teams. Additionally, he will become the first pitcher aged 45 or older to appear in a game since Bartolo Colon in 2018.
Hill has been playing at Triple-A Omaha after joining the Royals in a trade during the offseason. He has a 4-4 record with a 5.36 ERA across nine starts at Omaha.
Hill Ties Record for Most MLB Franchises Played For
Kansas City’s manager, Matt Quatraro, confirmed the decision after the Royals’ 12-4 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Monday night.
Hill, who made four appearances for Boston last season, will become the oldest active player in baseball when he takes the mound on Tuesday.
Over the course of his career, Hill has made 11 postseason starts, including two World Series appearances in 2017 and 2018 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2017, he posted an 11-5 record during the regular season.
To date, Hill has a career MLB record of 90-74 with a 4.01 ERA in 386 games. He has pitched 1,409 innings and has struck out 1,428 batters.
