Rich Hill became the oldest active player in Major League Baseball when the Kansas City Royals called him up from Triple-A Omaha at 45 years old during their game against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. This appearance marked Hill’s 21st major league season and his debut with the Royals, making them the 14th major league team of his career, tying Edwin Jackson’s record.
Hill previously became the oldest player to start an MLB game on May 27, 2012, when Lefty Jamie Moyer pitched at age 49 in his final match. Royals manager Matt Quatraro noted that Hill has no limits on his pitch count, acknowledging his endurance developed while pitching in Omaha, where he had a 4-4 record and a 5.36 ERA in nine starts.
At 45 years and 133 days, Hill is now the oldest player in Royals history, surpassing Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry. Hill, who stands 6-foot-5, began his career with the Cubs, debuting on June 15, 2005, in a relief appearance against the Florida Marlins. Last season, he played four games with the Boston Red Sox and had notable postseason experience with the Los Angeles , including two World Series starts in 2017 and another in 2018. Over his career, he has compiled a 90-74 record with a 4.01 ERA across 368 games, pitching 1,409 innings.
In a related move, the Royals sent right-handed pitcher Andrew Hoffman to Omaha and designated outfielder Tyler Gentry for assignment.
Fan Take: Rich Hill’s return to the majors at 45 is a testament to longevity and passion in baseball, inspiring fans that age is just a number when it comes to pursuing dreams. His remarkable career highlights the evolving nature of the sport, where experience and resilience can continue to make a significant impact.
