As the Boston Red Sox fall further from playoff contention, mostly due to shoddy pitching, reinforcements have arrived in the form of the oldest active MLB player.
The Red Sox will activate 44-year-old, Massachusetts native Rich Hill ahead of their third game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 27, FanSided's Robert Murray reported. He'll begin his 20th major league season in Boston, where he's played in five campaigns, the most of his career with any team.
It is uncertain what Hill's role in the pitching staff will be, but it seems he prepared with the intention to start. He gave a 100-pitch showcase to scouts before he signed with the Red Sox, but his appearance with Triple-A Worcester only went two innings. After their doubleheader on Monday, the Sox announced Cooper Criswell will start Tuesday's action, but Hill may follow from the bullpen.
Hill's last full, major-league season was 2023, and he posted a 5.41 ERA with 129 strikeouts over 146.1 innings. He began his campaign with the Pirates before he was dished to the Padres at the deadline, where he logged a less-than-stellar 8.23 ERA in 27.1 innings.
Dick Mountain is back: After signing a minor-league contract on Aug. 15, the Red Sox are activating Rich Hill, sources say.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) August 27, 2024
Hill, 44, made one appearance with Triple-A Worcester, throwing two hitless innings while recording two strikeouts.
Red Sox will activate Rich Hill on Aug. 27 before third game against Blue Jays
Hill returns to the big leagues off nearly nine months of rest since his last professional outing, and his hitless appearance with the WooSox could signal great things to come in his delayed campaign. But the fact that Boston needs Hill at all in the midst of a playoff push is concerning.
The Red Sox's pitching staff has had tough luck with injuries this season, as it has in the few before it. James Paxton seemed like a desperate addition to the Sox's pitching staff at the trade deadline, and his season has since ended. Lucas Giolito and Garrett Whitlock have also been sidelined for months, but none of them are near the high level of talent Red Sox fans have grown accustomed to seeing in the rotation.
Boston is due for a big offseason, and quality starting pitching should be of high priority. The front office told fans it would spend when its next round of top prospects reach the big leagues, which should be in 2025.
Top names like Corbin Burnes and Jack Flaherty, among others, will be available this offseason and their markets will be competitive. Red Sox ownership needs to get out in front of the market and sign someone early because a fourth-straight August collapse would be unacceptable next year. Hill is a fan favorite and he's a fine late-season addition to Boston's desperate pitching staff, but it can — and should — do better in 2025.