The year 2025 has been unexpected in a lot of ways for the Boston Red Sox. The Big Three – Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer, and Roman Anthony – all made their major league debuts before the All-Star Game. Rafael Devers was traded. Carlos Narváez, expected to be a defensive backup for Connor Wong, is a Rookie of the Year candidate.
But some things never change: Rich Hill is a free agent exploring rejoining the Red Sox.
On Rob Bradford’s Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast the two discussed a potential reunion between Hill and Boston. Rich “Bunker” Hill?
But after 21 big league seasons and, apparently, no interest from other MLB clubs, Hill doesn’t have much to prove except to himself.
And that’s the idea: he’s a pitcher, why doesn’t he pitch?
“If they’re facing a lefty, I’ll go in and throw to the guys. What’s better than live arms?”
Essentially, the Milton native suggests, he’d throw batting practice.
Now, this isn’t like suggesting Brad Lidge toss to Albert Pujols in the Home Run Derby.
Although, is Rich Hill really that bored / desperate to hang around the game?
Over his 2 starts with the Kansas City Royals, Hill lasted just 9.0 innings. He allowed 7 runs, struck out 4, walked 8, and allowed 2 home runs. That’s still nearly 3 times as many innings as he tossed for Boston in 2024 when he was a spry 44 instead of 45.
Rich Hill’s entire career is weird though. He got knocked around a bit making his debut at 25. Just under 100 innings in 2006 were better. In 2007 he was pretty good with a 3.93 ERA (though a FIP north of 4.00)! Then he wandered in the wilderness – including 31 innings of 1.14 ERA/2.32 FIP baseball for the Red Sox – before the struggles returned. And then Boston picked him up off the scrap heap in 2015. Hill was already 35 and had 21 mixed innings in the minors and 11 good innings for the independent league Long Island Ducks when the Sox gave him a chance.
That season would be the second of two last place finishes to follow the 2013 World Series squad. But whatever they worked on with the old lefty spread across his outings like wildfire. For 29 innings he posted a 1.55 ERA / 2.27 FIP. After that he’d go on to have a run of success from his age 36-42 seasons. A guy who was on the Long Island Ducks at age 35. Bobby Dalbec, to name a random guy, is only 30 this year. Imagine if in 2030 he’s picked up as a DH somewhere and hits 45 home runs in the big leagues. Though Hill, of course, had much more major league success than Dalbec before his renaissance.
Obviously it’s unlikely this is a serious offer or plan by Hill and Bradford. Is batting practice, even against a lefty, really going to help a team a few hours later? Especially if that lefty was released and doesn’t throw hard to at least give the hitters a bit of something they might see?
Could Ichiro, pictured below on August 10, 2025, have more left in the tank as a hitter or as a pitcher? For practice only – we’re no going to open the can of a Hall of Famer returning to the active roster after induction even in a hypothetical.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – AUGUST 10: Major League Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ichiro Suzuki throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on August 10, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) Getty Images
Brad Lidge throwing to Pujols was already mentioned.
Prince Fielder, forced into early retirement due to injury, is only 41. He played in the Brewers Alumni Home Run Derby last month. Were his health different, could a team, maybe even this years Brewers, have Mr. 3000’d Prince into coming back down the stretch for a few games to lengthen the lineup?
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JULY 25: Prince Fielder up to bat during the Milwaukee Brewers Alumni Home Run Derby at American Family Field on July 25, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) Getty Images
Almost more intriguing: who would you want to see in a Red Sox Alumni Home Run Derby?
Big Papi for sure. Manny? Nomar? Alex Cora? Mike Napoli? Marco Scutaro? Mo Vaughn? Wily Mo Peña!?!?!
And Rich Hill could throw to all of them.