Rich Hill Becomes Oldest MLB Player with Royals, Ties Record on 14th Team

In a historic moment on the diamond, Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Rich Hill made his debut for the team in a 6-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. At 45 years old, Hill not only tied an MLB record by playing for his 14th different team—matching reliever Edwin Jackson—but also claimed the title of the oldest active player in the sport today.

Hill’s journey back to the majors is nothing short of inspiring. Taking the mound for five innings, the left-hander allowed six hits and three runs (two unearned), with a couple of walks and a strikeout. Despite the scoreboard, Royals manager Matt Quatraro praised Hill’s grit, saying, "He battled his butt off out there. It was tough work early." Quatraro noted that defensive lapses behind Hill didn’t help, suggesting the veteran pitcher could have exited with fewer—or even no—runs against him on a tighter day.

The second inning proved particularly grueling for Hill, who threw 31 of his 90 pitches in that frame alone, as errors led to two unearned runs. Reflecting on the game, Hill admitted, "The second inning was a bit of a grind," but felt confident in how the ball left his hand.

This start marks Hill’s 21st season in the big leagues, a testament to his enduring passion for the game. At 45 years and 133 days, he surpassed Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry to become the oldest player in Royals history. Called up from Triple-A to fill in for the injured Michael Lorenzen, Hill remains hungry for more, saying, "When you know you have more to give, it’s tough to walk away."

With a career spanning teams from the Cubs to the Dodgers, and now the Royals, Hill’s resilience and love for baseball continue to defy age. As the Royals (49-53) face the Cubs (60-41) in their series finale, all eyes will be on whether this veteran arm gets another shot to shine.