MLB News: Royals’ Rich Hill becomes the oldest active player in the big leagues
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Kansas City Royals Starting pitcher Richhill tied the MLB record during a 6-0 loss at Wrigley Field on Tuesday.
Hill, 45, was defeated in his Royals debut and tied bailiff Edwin Jackson for playing for his 14th different team MLB Career.
Hill’s return to the major leagues made him the oldest active player in the sport.
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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Rich Hill will return to the dugout after his first innings against the Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago on July 22, 2025. (Karzaczynski-Immagn image)
The left-handed starting pitcher pitched five innings, producing six hits and three runs (two bad luck) on two walks and strikeouts.
“He fought his ass out there,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said after the match. “It was tough being there early.”
“He had some walks there, but he made a lot of competitive pitches. Some of them didn’t go his way, but we didn’t play solidly behind him to keep it up. Otherwise he’d probably see it, probably not run.”
Hill had two tough innings as he threw 31 out of his 90 pitches in that frame as his defense betrayed him. He gave up the run that had won that inning twice.
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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Rich Hill will provide a pitch against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 22, 2025 in Chicago. (Karzaczynski-Immagn image)
“You know, the two innings were a bit of a grind to get through,” Hill said. “But overall, I felt like the ball came out of my hands the way I wanted it to.”
From the start, Hill’s 21st season in the big leagues is underway. Jamie Moyer is 49 years old Colorado Rockies May 27th, 2012.
In 45 years and 133 days, Hill became the oldest player in Royals history and passed Hall of Fame right-handed Gaylord Perry.
Hill was called out by Triple A and took part in Michael Lorenzen’s rotation. Quatraro didn’t say when Hill would pitch next, but the 6-foot-5 left-hander wants to pitch again.
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The Kansas City Royals will launch Rich Hill Watch from the dugout during the Cubs game on July 22, 2025. (Karzaczynski-Immagn image)
“It’s easy to say you love it, but it’s hard to leave when you know there’s more to give,” Hill said.
Over his 21-year career, Hill played Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Crebrand Indians of the time, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota twins, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirets, San Diego Padres, Royals.
The Royals (49-53) will take on the Cubs (60-41) in the final match of the Eastern 3-Game Series at 2:20pm on Wednesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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