Royals' Rich Hill, on 14th team, becomes oldest active player in MLB

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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Rich Hill tied an MLB record during the team’s 6-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday at Wrigley Field.

Hill, 45, made his Royals’ debut in the loss and tied reliever Edwin Jackson for having played for his 14th different team in his MLB career. 

Hill’s return to the major leagues also made him the oldest active player in the sport.

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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Rich Hill walks back to the dugout after the first inning against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 22, 2025, in Chicago. (Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)

The left-handed starting pitcher pitched five innings and yielded six hits and three runs (two unearned) with two walks and a strikeout. 

"He battled his butt off out there," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said postgame. "It was tough work out there early."

"He had a couple of walks in there, but he made a lot of competitive pitches. Some of them didn't go his way, but we didn't play tight enough behind him to keep it where it was. Otherwise, he's probably looking at one, maybe no runs."

Hill had a grueling second inning, as he threw 31 of his 90 pitches in that frame as his defense betrayed him. He gave up two unearned runs that inning. 

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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Rich Hill delivers a pitch against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 22, 2025, in Chicago. (Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)

"You know, the second inning was a little bit of a grind to get through," Hill said. "But overall, I felt like the ball came out of my hand pretty much the way I