Breaking MLB News: KC Royals Add 45-Year-Old To Rotation

The Kansas City Royals are 5.5 games out of a Wild Card spot in the AL, and whether they'll be sellers or not at the trade deadline at the end of next week is still up for debate. They could decide to sell a starting pitcher, like Seth Lugo or Michael Wacha.

They also have two starters on the injured list at the moment, in Cole Ragans and Michael Lorenzen.

With all of that in mind, the Royals have made a move to add to their rotation depth, by selecting the contract of 45-year-old Rich Hill. When he takes the mound for KC, it'll be his 21st MLB season, and his 14th major league team—tying Edwin Jackson for most teams pitched for.

45-year-old Rich Hill is expected to pitch for the Royals this week, per @ByRobertMurray

Kansas City will be his 14th MLB team, tying Edwin Jackson's MLB record pic.twitter.com/UAjB0DcPoH
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 21, 2025

Hill is expected to toe the rubber for the Royals as early as Tuesday this week. At that point, he will become only the 18th pitcher in major league history to start a game at the age of 45 or older.

Last Sunday, Hill looked sensational, as he threw 104 pitches for Triple-A Omaha, striking out 10 batters over five innings of one-run ball. Yup, sounds like he can still contribute.

In 2024, Hill only pitched 3.2 innings for the Boston Red Sox, his hometown team, before they DFA'd him in September. He signed a minor league deal with KC this year back in May.

For his never-ending career, Hill has pitched 1,409 innings, with a 90-74 record and a 4.01 ERA along with a 1.259 WHIP. He's averaged more than a strikeout per inning (9.1).