Rich Hill Explains ‘Driving Force’ Behind Red Sox Comeback

Rich Hill is seeking one last run in MLB, and he has a clear goal in mind after signing on for his fourth stint with the Red Sox.

Boston signed Hill to a minor-league deal Aug. 15, and he’s spent time preparing for his Friday appearance with Triple-A Worcester. The 44-year-old had a bullpen session with top prospect Kyle Teel, which was days after he threw over 100 pitches in his showcase event in front of multiple teams.

Hill last pitched for the San Diego Padres last season but didn’t sign with a club before the start of the 2024 season. While Boston’s top prospects might enjoy sitting in the learning tree under Hill, the veteran pitcher has a clear goal for the rest of this month.

“I mean, realistically, obviously, it would be before Sept. 1 to be able to have an opportunity to play and be on that postseason roster,” Hill told Rob Bradford on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast this week. “I think I have plenty of experience of pitching in the postseason and understanding what it takes to pitch environment. Kind of making that situation as attainable as possible and bringing a level of just understanding and experience in that situation. And that’s something that’s certainly is one of the driving forces behind coming back and pitching.”

There is a dearth of left-handed pitchers on Boston’s staff, especially after James Paxton landed on the injured list. Hill would be a much-needed body, but he’ll have to prove he’s still capable of pitching at a major-league level starting Friday.