Dodgers Team News

Dodgers Rich Hill Exits Start with Injury

Rich Hill finally made his return to a big league mound on Thursday after a 3 month layoff. Hill was activated from the 60-day IL earlier in the day after recovering from a forearm strain. After retiring the first two batters of the game on strikeouts, Hill started throwing wild and loaded the bases on a walk and two hit batters.

Manager Dave Roberts came out with the trainer to check on Hill who was noticeably grimacing on his follow through, but convinced Roberts to give him one more batter. Hill walked that batter — walking in a run — and his night was over.



After his removal, Jon Morosi asked Roberts about what he saw from the veteran left hander…

…it turns out that Hill’s knee started barking on him.

The 39 year-old will undergo further testing, but it should be noted that the left knee is the same knee that was a source of problems for Hill to start the season. Rich did not make his season debut until April 28 in Pittsburgh.

The hope for Los Angeles was for the southpaw to make about 4 starts in September before a postseason roster spot would be considered — at least in the starting rotation.

Adam Kolarek came on to get the final out of the first inning, and Yimi Garcia recorded a clean second inning, but Tony Gonsolin would be another arm in consideration for that fourth starter spot come October. Gonsolin came on in relief in Baltimore in the 3rd inning and proceeded to strike out the side.

Moreover, Dustin May and Julio Urias would be in consideration for that rotation spot, if Hill is indeed out for an extended period.

Clint Pasillas

Clint Pasillas has been writing, blogging, and podcasting about the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2008. Under Clint's leadership as the Lead Editor, Dodgers Nation has grown into one of the most read baseball sites in the world with millions of unique visitors per month. Find him online on Twitter/X or his YouTube channel!

13 Comments

  1. Are you kidding me?!?! Can’t even pitch an inning without getting hurt! DFA him or do whatever can be done to eliminate him from the roster immediately so that we can add someone who can contribute. He hasn’t been around for pretty much the whole season anyway and we haven’ missed or needed him, and he won’t be back next year. He’s done.

  2. Yelich injures knee out for year Ohtani knee injury out for year and now Hill injures knee. Pro Sports are so phony that’s too big of a coincidence it’s pure mocking of the masses. Knee injuries are in right now I guess

  3. Yelich injures knee out for year Ohtani knee injury out for year and now Hill injures knee. Pro Sports are so phony that’s too big of a coincidence it’s pure mocking. Knee injuries are in right now I guess

        1. Hill has indicated that he does want to pitch again next year, either for Dodgers or another team. My guess is he will do what it may take for him to be ready to doso in 2020

  4. That’s great news. That means Gonsolin will be on the playoff roster. I’d much rather have Gonsolin than Rich Hill in the playoffs.

  5. That was the last time we’ll see Rich Hill (Blister Boy) in a Dodgers uniform. I bet he spent more time on the Dl/IL that he did on the active roster.

  6. Shocker. The guy lives on the dl. If LA was thinking of resigning him this should disabuse them of that notion. Let him walk and use the money saved on someon who will actually stay on the active roster.

  7. Don’s comment above says it all. We can sympathize with Hill (except that he has been overpaid for 3 years) but NOT resign him under any circumstances.

  8. Hill has been paid $48,000,000 on his current 3 year contract with the Dodgers and to date has pitched a total of 355 innings and won 30 games. That equates to $16,000,000 per win. He has been on the DL/IL 7 times since joining the club in August of 2016. Just saying.

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