Dodgers News: Rich Hill Provides Updated Timeline on Return
According to Alanna Rizzo, Dodgers left-handed pitcher Rich Hill told SportsNet LA that he will begin throwing bullpens three weeks from now, or some time in late August.
Rich Hill said just now in @SportsNetLA, that he’ll throw a bullpen in three weeks. He’s on IL with flexor tendon strain. #Dodgers
— AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) August 4, 2019
He’s looking at some time in 3 weeks to throw his first bullpen session since being removed from a start in June. If Hill is in fact on this timeline, it puts some serious question marks around his status for the postseason roster.
He is working his way back from a pretty serious injury with a flexor tendon strain of his pitching arm and as he is already approaching 40 years old, the recovery timetable is a bit longer than expected.
Hill, 39, was in the midst of a solid season, pitching to the tune of a 2.55 ERA across 53 innings of work. He has been mentioned as a potential bullpen piece in October, a role that would also allow him to return from the injured list a bit sooner than initially believed.
Rich Hill is in the final year of a 3-year pact with the Dodgers that he signed at the conclusion of a fantastic 2016 campaign.
Sad to say, Rich is probably gone after this year unless he signs like a 1 year cut rate deal. He has been pretty strong for us when healthy. He may squeak into the postseason with us as a relief option. He could be great for us to come in for a string of lefties.