Rich Hill knows his MLB career has limited time left, but he won't let his age deter his passion for the game, which he will bring in his fourth stint with the Red Sox.
Boston signed the 44-year-old after attending his showcase this month. Hill didn't pitch most of the season and primarily spent time coaching his son's little league team. But the veteran is set to pitch his 20th season in the majors.
It's an incredible feat, and legendary baseball writer Peter Gammons highlighted how mind-blowing it will be to see Hill pitch this year.
"If Rich Hill at 44 comes home to Fenway, remember, when he made his debut in 2005, it was in relief...for Greg Maddux," Gammons posted on X on Tuesday.
With that post, Gammons made millions of baseball fans feel very old. For added context, when Hill made his MLB debut, Tanner Houck, who tossed a "Maddux" this season, was weeks away from turning nine years old. Those kinds of fun facts were used multiple times when Hill was at Triple-A Worcester, like how Kyle Teel, who caught a bullpen session for Hill, was three years old when Hill debuted.
The left-hander didn't feature in Boston's win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, but he's prepared for any role that is expected of him.
