Free-agent left-hander Rich Hill underwent elbow surgery following the 2019 season and will miss approximately half the 2020 season, the 39-year-old told the Orange County Register on Monday.
Hill underwent a procedure known as “primary revision” to repair a re-injury to the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching arm. Hill had Tommy John surgery in 2011.
Hill, who turns 40 in March, told the newspaper his rehab from the surgery will last about seven to eight months. He said the procedure will allow him to continue pitching.
“This wasn’t an option six years ago,” Hill said. “This guarantees I’ll be back. Given where I’m at in my career, how much longer I’d like to play, the percentage of success is upward of 95 percent.”
Hill made just 13 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019 due to injuries, the most seriously being a flexor tendon strain in June. He went 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA.
He has spent the past 3 1/2 seasons with the Dodgers and compiled a 30-16 record and 3.16 ERA in 69 appearances (68 starts).
Hill told the Register that at least 10 teams have interest in his services, based on conversations his agent had at the recent general manager meetings.
Overall, Hill is 65-42 with a 3.82 ERA in 15 seasons with the Chicago Cubs (2005-08), Baltimore Orioles (2009), Boston Red Sox (2010-12, 2015), Cleveland Indians (2013), Los Angeles Angels (2014), New York Yankees (2014), Oakland Athletics (2016) and Dodgers.