The Boston Red Sox's pitching staff has faltered since the All-Star break, but shocking late-season reinforcements are coming.
Rich Hill, a seemingly inevitable Red Sox, began his eighth stint with the club when it signed him to a minor-league deal on Aug. 17. He's slated to make his first start in Triple-A less than a week later.
The 44-year-old will make a short start for the WooSox on Aug. 23, reported by Christopher Smith of MassLive. Brad Keller, who's pitched 20.2 innings for the Red Sox this season, is expected to follow Hill on the mound against the Norfolk Tides.
Hill is a 19-year MLB veteran and the Red Sox are his longest-tenured club. He's pitched for Boston across five seasons, most recently in 2022, when he posted a 4.27 ERA over 124.1 innings.
Rich Hill slated to make first start of latest Red Sox tenure in Triple-A on Aug. 23
Kyle Teel was 3 years old when Rich Hill made his MLB debut in 2005.
— Worcester Red Sox (@WooSox) August 18, 2024
Now he's catching his bullpen. pic.twitter.com/iP8CfSUY90
Hill still needs to work up to starter-level innings, and Red Sox manager Alex Cora said there are "no promises" after his tenure in Worcester. The veteran always hoped to pitch in the second half of this MLB season and he's thrown 100 pitches in showcase appearances before the Sox signed him — he's not working up from nothing, but Hill still needs to prepare before he can step onto the mound as a major league starter again.
If Hill's time in Worcester is a success, he could help the Red Sox pitching staff eat some much-needed innings in the wake of starter injuries and bullpen struggles. His first start coming less than a week after his signing is a promising start to his fourth stint with his hometown ballclub.