BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox made several significant roster changes today, highlighted by the promotion of veteran left-handed pitcher Rich Hill from Triple-A Worcester to the Major League roster. Hill will wear number 44 for the Red Sox.
In addition to Hill’s promotion, the Red Sox have recalled right-handed pitcher Greg Weissert from Worcester. To make room for these adjustments, they have placed right-handed pitcher Lucas Sims on the 15-Day Injured List due to a right lat strain and designated right-handed pitcher Brad Keller for assignment.
Rich Hill, now 44 years old, rejoined the Red Sox on August 16 under a minor league contract. His recent performance for Triple-A Worcester included a solid outing where he pitched 2.0 scoreless innings against Norfolk, recording two strikeouts, one walk, and one hit batter.
Hill’s addition to the active roster is noteworthy for several reasons. With his debut for the Red Sox in 2024, Hill will join an elite group of players. He has already played for 13 different Major League teams, tying him for the second-most teams in MLB history, a record currently held by Edwin Jackson with 14 teams. Additionally, Hill is on the verge of making history by becoming the only player to appear in at least one game in each of the last 20 seasons, spanning from 2005 to 2024. This achievement would put him alongside Tim Wakefield as the only pitchers to have played for the Red Sox at the age of 44 or older, with Wakefield’s last Major League appearance occurring on September 25, 2011, at age 45.
Over his 19-season career, Hill has compiled a 90-73 record with a 4.01 ERA across 382 appearances, including 248 starts. His journey through Major League Baseball has included stints with the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Red Sox (in 2010-12, 2015, and 2022), Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, and San Diego Padres. Hill has also made 13 postseason appearances, including 12 starts, with a 1-2 record and a 3.06 ERA.
A Boston native, Hill graduated from Milton High School and later attended the University of Michigan before being drafted by the Cubs in the fourth round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. In 2019, Hill was honored with the Tony Conigliaro Award by the Red Sox, recognizing his spirit, determination, and courage in overcoming adversity.
In other roster updates, Greg Weissert, a 29-year-old right-hander, has been recalled. This season, Weissert has posted a 4.10 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 47 games for the Red Sox and a 1.50 ERA in four games with Worcester. Originally drafted by the New York Yankees in the 18th round of the 2016 Draft, Weissert has a career ERA of 4.29 in 76 games with the Yankees and Red Sox.
Lucas Sims, acquired from the Cincinnati Reds on July 30, has been placed on the 15-Day Injured List due to a right lat strain. Sims has struggled this season with an 8.10 ERA in 11 games for Boston and a 3.57 ERA in 43 games for the Reds. His career ERA stands at 4.53 across 241 games with Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Boston.
Brad Keller, who was signed by the Red Sox as a minor league free agent on August 14, has been designated for assignment. Keller, a 29-year-old right-hander, has a 5.44 ERA in 16 Major League appearances this season, split between the Chicago White Sox and the Red Sox. He also holds a 3.00 ERA in nine games with Worcester.
These moves reflect the Red Sox’s ongoing efforts to adjust their roster and address injuries as they push towards the latter part of the season.
