The oldest player in Major League Baseball last season is now coaching at a much younger level.
Longtime MLB pitcher Rich Hill revealed in an interview this week with Ian Browne of MLB.com that he is now coaching Little League. Hill’s son Brice plays for the Reds of Milton National Little League in Massachusetts. Hill now serves as the pitching coach and a first base coach for Brice’s team.
Now 44, Hill added that he received three offers from MLB teams this offseason. But he turned them all down in order to coach his son, who is 12 years old and in his final year of Little League baseball.
“I’ve only seen Brice play four games over the last three years or whatever,” Hill said in the interview. “Getting the opportunity, knowing that it was his last year of Little League, that’s something that you can’t get back.
“We’ve had great moments we’ve been able to share,” Hill continued. “On my side, too, understanding that 12 years old is 12 years old. I think that’s extremely important to understand, from not just the aspect of the dad but the coaching side … So watching him be able to play and get[ting] that opportunity, this is the reason why I stayed home.”
Hill did add in the interview though that he still plans on returning to Major League Baseball, possibly later in the season. You can read his full interview with Browne here.
A 19-year MLB veteran who has pitched for 13 different teams in his career, Hill split time last year between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres. He went 8-14 in 27 starts overall, posting a 5.41 ERA. Hill also managed to strike out a surprising 129 batters in 2023.
While Hill’s velocity might not be there any more, his ability to eat innings from the back of the rotation (as well as his colorful personality) still keeps MLB teams interested. But at least for now though, Rich Hill the pitcher is taking a backseat to Rich Hill the dad.
