Rich Hill, whose 21 seasons in Major League Baseball are second only this century to Albert Pujols, won’t be returning for a 22nd season.
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Hill was still on the fence about retirement when the 2025 season came to a conclusion. He’s off the fence now, and shared his decision with Rob Bradford on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast that published Monday.
“I don’t have any plans on playing next year,” Hill said.
Just don’t call it a “retirement announcement.” Hill struggled to find the words to describe what he envisions as the next step in his baseball career.
“I’m looking for open possibilities to stay in the game of baseball and be a contributory factor as … again, I enjoy the work aspect of whatever it might be that’s next,” he said. “I think that’s one thing that might be why athletes get hired in other positions, outside of sports, is that they’re highly driven people that want to succeed. That’s something that I’m looking forward to.”
Hill went 90-76 with a 4.02 ERA for the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, Oakland A’s, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals.
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Hill helped the Dodgers reach back-to-back World Series in 2017 and 2018, and was at his best on baseball’s grandest stage. In three World Series starts, Hill allowed only three runs across 15 innings.
However, the Dodgers lost both series (to the Houston Astros and Red Sox, respectively). Hill made only one postseason appearance, in the 2019 National League Division Series, over the remainder of his career.
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Even though it ended without a championship ring, Hill’s playing career will serve as a lesson in perseverance.
In July 2015, Hill was released by the Angels. Without an offer from an MLB team, Hill signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Independent Atlantic League.
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It proved to be a turning point in his career. The Red Sox signed Hill after he threw 11 innings for the Ducks without allowing a run. He was assigned to Triple-A, worked his way back to the majors, and effectively reinvented his career.
At age 36, Hill signed a three-year, $48 million free agent contract with the Dodgers. After 15 seasons pitching professionally, it was the most lucrative deal of his career.
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Hill spent parts of four seasons with the Dodgers, four with the Cubs, and six with his hometown Red Sox. He and Edwin Jackson are the only men to have suited up for 14 different major league teams.
The Royals designated Hill for assignment last July, after he went 0-2 in five starts. That marked the end of a unique baseball journey that seems to have reached its conclusion — on the field, at least.
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