Rich Hill Update: Nearing Return for Dodgers After Simulated Game
Rich Hill is nearing a return to the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Friday – prior to the game with the Milwaukee Brewers – Hill threw a simulated game at Dodger Stadium.
Equally important, J.P. Hoornstra was nice enough to catch some footage of this on twitter. Of course, it’s okay to pay particular attention to the grunts that Hill has become known for.
That sound can only mean one thing: Rich Hill pitches today. It’s a sim game. Get pumped. pic.twitter.com/CMZDVyLetx
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) April 12, 2019
Indeed, the session went well; and Hill is on track to rejoin the Dodgers’ starting rotation soon. In all, Hill threw 46 pitches in the simulated game with a hitter standing in. Afterwards, he threw another 15 for good measure. Next up will be a rehab start in four days.
Rich Hill threw 46 pitches to hitters in his sim game, plus an additional 15 afterward. 61 total. Nothing left the yard, and he was encouraged by the results. He’ll start a game somewhere in four days.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) April 12, 2019
Furthermore, let’s not forget that it’s not an arm injury that has Hill on the shelf to begin with; but a knee. Hill is expected to wear a knee-brace when he pitches upon his return.
“I don’t think I have a choice,” Hill said. “They want me to wear it, and I haven’t really thrown too much with it off. It’s kind of there, and then in extreme circumstances, when you have extreme stress, it prevents it from [buckling].”
Right now, it doesn’t quite seem like the Dodgers are 100 percent the Dodgers we know as our own without Dick Mountain as a part of the act. It’s excellent news that Hill is feeling good and one step closer to a rehab assignment before joining the rotation regularly if all continues to go well.
In 2018, Hill went 11-5 with a 3.66 ERA in 24 games started for the Dodgers. This included 150 strikeouts in 132 innings pitched.
Analysis
Hill is no small addition to the Dodgers rotation. While he was never going to be counted upon to make 34 starts, he can be a shot in the arm for this current Dodgers’ team that has struggled to get solid pitching performances. Moreover, his veteran presence and guile are two things that the 2019 Dodgers can use in a big way. There are few guys I miss watching more than that of one Richard Joseph Hill.
Yasmani Grandal Returns To Dodger Stadium
Another benefit to getting Hill back, and Kershaw, is it puts Stripling and Urias back in the bullpenbullpen to help out there.
Yes, this staff looks like it could use the veteran leadership of Kershaw and Hill right now.
Come back healthy Rich Hill!
While I agree here as far as Hill and CK goes, I just wish this offense to stop with striking out the way they are now, especially with RISP. Bases full, or runner at 3rd with less than 2 out and failing miserably to score is just like many occasion last year. Then the excessive platooning, sitting down the hot bats, WHEN both Freidman and Roberts BOTH indicated there would not be as much platooning needed this year…Well they are both FILTHY LIARS in my book!!!!!!!!!!!