Longtime MLB pitcher Rich Hill has continued to grind away in the minor leagues hoping to get one last opportunity in the big leagues at 45 years of age. And on Monday, that opportunity came when he was called up by the Kansas City Royals.
Hill is about as experienced as any pitcher in the history of baseball, pitching at the MLB level for 20 years. Unfortunately for Hill, his 21 season within an MLB organization has thus far come at the Triple-A level for the Royals with their affiliate team, the Omaha Storm Chasers.
This is set to change though, as Hill finally got the call back up to the big leagues, getting called up by the organization on Monday, according to MLB.com reporter Anne Rogers.
45-year-old Rich Hill is back for his 21st season!
Hill is reportedly being called up by the Royals, per https://t.co/Z3s2EpgF39‘s @Anne__Rogers. pic.twitter.com/qaubA8v7dA
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2025
It’s unclear how long Hill will stay at the MLB level. But we do know that he will take the bump as the Royals starts for their game on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs.
Maybe it will just be a spot start for Hill. Or, perhaps the Royals have plans to keep an experienced arm like Hill up at the MLB level for the remainder of the season as they continue to attempt to climb into a Wild Card spot in the American League.
Either way, it will certainly be fascinating to see Hill, who made his MLB debut when Royals stars Bobby Witt Jr. and Jac Caglianone were 5 and two-year-old respectively, continue to live out his baseball dreams.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.