Rich Hill, 45, Becomes MLB’s Oldest Active Player with Royals Start

Baseball gets romanticized for its history and tales of grit, and Rich Hill’s latest milestone adds another chapter to that lore. On July 22, 2025, Hill—lefty, survivor, and a name now tied to longevity—took the mound for the Kansas City Royals against the Chicago Cubs at 45 years old.

This wasn’t just any game. It was a moment that highlighted the wild path he’s traveled. From tying Edwin Jackson’s record for most teams played for to facing his original club, Hill’s story just keeps reinforcing why sports pull us in with all their unpredictability.

Rich Hill’s Historic Milestone: Oldest Active Player in MLB

When Hill stepped onto the mound against the Cubs, he became the oldest active player in Major League Baseball. That’s more than a trivia note—it shows how he’s adapted, changed, and proved doubters wrong over two decades.

At 45, he joined a tiny group of athletes who keep going long after most have hung it up. He’s a living reminder that sometimes, you really can outlast the odds.

14 Teams and Full-Circle Nostalgia

There’s a twist of nostalgia here. Hill’s first MLB team? The Chicago Cubs. Facing them again, all these years later, just feels poetic.

On that night, Hill tied Edwin Jackson’s record by suiting up for his 14th Major League team. Managers keep calling for him, wanting his steady arm. The Royals are his seventh team since turning 40, which is wild—he’s crushed the record for most clubs played for after 40. That’s not just luck; it’s a knack for staying relevant.

Performance on the Field: Rich Hill’s 2025 Highlights

Starting against the Cubs brought a sentimental angle, but Hill didn’t let nostalgia steal the show. Over five innings, he threw 90 pitches, allowed three runs (just one earned), gave up six hits and two walks.

He struck out one, mixing his curveballs-disappearing-mlbs-shift-toward-pitching-velocity/”>signature curveball with just enough craft to keep hitters guessing. Even at 45, he still had some tricks.

The Numbers Behind the Veteran’s Success

Hill’s fastball sat at 89 mph that night. His curveball—always his go-to—remained a real weapon. Half of his swinging strikes came from that pitch.

Maybe his stat line wasn’t dominant, but he showed he could still go toe-to-toe with the younger, harder-throwing crowd.

A Career of Longevity: The Rich Hill Legacy

Hill’s career stats before this game read like a manual for durability. A 4.01 ERA, a 2.63 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and about 17.1 Wins Above Replacement (WAR).

He’s done more than stick around—he’s stayed relevant in a league that usually pushes out the older guys fast.

Breaking Barriers After 40

What Hill’s done after 40 is just rare. Pitching for seven teams since hitting that age, he’s set a new standard for what’s possible later in a career.

Teams still want him for his experience, proving he’s got value even as the years stack up. Not many can say that.

Oldest Starting Pitcher Since Jamie Moyer

Hill’s start against the Cubs makes him the oldest pitcher to start a game since Jamie Moyer went out there for the Rockies in 2012 at 49. That comparison says it all.

In today’s game, where teams chase youth and velocity, Hill’s achievement stands out even more.

A Testament to Adaptability

His ability to change up his approach has kept him in the league. Plenty of older pitchers fade when their fastball slows, but Hill’s leaned on his curveball and sharp instincts to keep pitching at a high level.

It’s a reminder that in baseball, sometimes adapting beats raw talent. There’s something to admire in that, honestly.

The Legacy of Rich Hill

Rich Hill’s journey in Major League Baseball isn’t just about stats or milestones. He stands for something bigger—an unyielding drive to keep moving forward, even when things get tough.

From his first pitch with the Cubs back in 2005 to that wild, record-setting moment with the Royals in 2025, Hill’s story keeps surprising people. He’s shown that age really doesn’t matter much if you’ve got the grit and stubbornness to keep going.

Baseball loves to hype up the latest wave of young stars. But Hill, honestly, just proves that experience and passion still matter—sometimes more than raw talent.

 
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