The path of successful players is roughly clear. After hearing the sound of a genius from his amateur days, he was nominated as a pro, and after a certain period of life in the minor leagues, he debuted in the major leagues. And, using the accumulated skills as a base, they enjoy their heyday until a certain point in their 30s, and then gradually decline. At the end, retirement awaits.

Rich Hill (43, Pittsburgh) is the opposite player. Signing on a third nomination after receiving and rejecting two nominations as an amateur, Hill debuted in the major leagues in 2005, but spent his first decade as an unremarkable player, except for 11 wins in 2007. From 2005 until 2015, when he turned 35, Hill appeared in 201 major league games, going 26-23 with a 4.54 ERA. While he was considered by others to be in his prime, he didn’t have any records.

However, Hill made a remarkable turning point in Oakland in 2016, and then spent his prime in his mid- and late 30s, receiving a love call from the Los Angeles Dodgers. From 2016 to last year, Hill went out in 149 games (147 starting games) and played a great performance with an average ERA of 3.39 with 56 wins and 36 losses, extending his career by one year.

After proving that he hasn’t rusted yet with an 8-7 record with a 4.27 ERA in 26 starts for Boston last year, he will start his 19th major league season by signing a one-year, $8 million contract with Pittsburgh ahead of this season. . Pittsburgh, which is aiming for a rebuilding graduation, picked Hill as a veteran pitcher to lead young players.

Hill is 43 years old. It is the first time since Ichiro Suzuki, who was 45 years old in 2019, his last season, that a 43-year-old player plays in the major leagues. In the recent major league trend where physical ability is more prominent, it is difficult to find a player in his 40s, but the 43-year-old starting pitcher is Hill.

On the other hand, Hill is also famous as a player who has had many transfers in his 19-year career. Pittsburgh is the 12th team of his career. 토토사이트 Edwin Jackson (14 teams), Octavino Dotel (13 teams), Mike Morgan (12 teams), Mack Strayer (12 teams) and Ron Billone (12 teams) are the only players in MLB history to have played for more than 12 teams. It’s the 6th.

Physical deterioration is unavoidable. Hill’s four-seam fastball average velocity has been steadily declining, and his swing-and-miss rate has been inconsistent year-to-year, somewhat of a rollercoaster ride. However, he still exerts himself with excellent command and game management, and the power of the curve, which is the most decisive factor that revived him. It is an ironic long run considering that he struggled with frequent injuries and command hunting in his youth. this is baseball

There are always teams that want a starting pitcher who won’t be able to play full-time or 180+ innings, but who can cleverly spin the rotation at a low price. Pittsburgh was such a team this year. Hill posted a WAR of 1.7 in 2021 and 1.8 in 2022. The $8 million investment was justified in its own way. Attention is focusing on whether Hill’s career can continue in 2024 and beyond.