45-Year-Old Rich Hill Joins MLB 14th Team, Extends Record

Rich Hill, at 45 years old, is set to return to Major League Baseball with the Kansas City Royals, marking his 21st MLB season and tying the record for most teams played for at 14. This call-up makes him the oldest active player in the league, surpassing Justin Verlander, and one of the few pitchers aged 45 or older to appear in a game since 2018. Hill has spent the current season with the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate, posting a 5.36 ERA over nine starts, and is expected to provide veteran depth to the Royals' rotation amid injuries to key pitchers. Over his career, Hill has a 90-74 record with a 4.01 ERA and 1,428 strikeouts, and he is known for his durability and longevity, similar to other MLB players who have pitched into their 40s and beyond. His impending start against the Chicago Cubs will also highlight his unique career longevity, having debuted at Wrigley Field in 2005 and now returning there two decades later. Hill’s career exemplifies the possibility of extended MLB careers, especially for pitchers who can maintain arm health and effectiveness.