

Rich Hill Credits Atlantic League for Latest Stint with Red Sox![]() “If the [Atlantic] League wasn’t there, I don’t know if we would be here talking right now,” Hill later said. “That’s something that I’m thankful for and grateful for, looking back on that opportunity that I was given to go and start in Long Island. Really, that’s something that I’ll always be thankful for.”
3 things to know about new Red Sox pitcher Rich Hill, a native of Milton
By Tom Westerholm
"There is an interest [in the Red Sox], without a doubt," Hill said in November.
Here are three things to know about new Red Sox pitcher Rich Hill — a Milton native who rejoined the Red Sox at age 42 on a one-year deal.
Hill wasn’t shy about coming home.
In November, Hill dropped a hint he could return to the Red Sox.
Per The Boston Globe‘s Alex Speier, Hill saw the Red Sox at the time as a team with “considerable” appeal.
“[The Red Sox] do things right,” Hill said, per Speier. “I’ve been around 14 organizations. … If I tell you that they’re in the upper echelon [of franchises], they’re doing pretty good. There is an interest [in the Red Sox], without a doubt.”
On Wednesday, Hill agreed to terms with the Red Sox, per the team. Hill will be on a one-year deal.
Hill has had a winding path.
Hill has played for 11 teams in 18 seasons — including four seasons with the Red Sox. Last year, Hill was 7-8 in 31 starts with an ERA of 3.86, finishing 6-4 with the Rays and 1-4 with the Mets. According to Baseball Savant, Hill’s fastball averaged 88.1 mph last season, and batters hit .269 against it. Against his curve — which made up 44.3 percent of his pitches — hitters batted .224.
Hill will turn 42 in March. He was drafted by the Cubs and pitched his first Major League game in 2005. After a year in Baltimore, Hill pitched for the Red Sox from 2010-12 and again in 2015.
The Red Sox once signed Hill out of the Atlantic League.
In 2015, Hill signed a deal in the independent Atlantic League, hoping to show Major League teams he could still be a starter after spending years in the bullpen. Hill was dominant, and the Red Sox signed him. After five starts in Pawtucket, Hill was called up to the Red Sox where he pitched 29 innings with a 1.55 ERA.
“If the [Atlantic] League wasn’t there, I don’t know if we would be here talking right now,” Hill later said. “That’s something that I’m thankful for and grateful for, looking back on that opportunity that I was given to go and start in Long Island. Really, that’s something that I’ll always be thankful for.”
|
![]()
Browse by Month »
May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 |