Dodgers Rumors: Is Rich Hill ready to rejoin the Dodgers?
Rich Hill looked skirmish in his first action on the mound. According to these Dodgers rumors, is the left-hander ready for the big leagues once more?
On Thursday, Hill pitched his first rehab game for the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Hill was scheduled to throw 60 pitches and go four innings. However, that wasn’t the case. Instead, Hill struggled and Dodgers rumors have risen as a result.
Hill was pulled just two-thirds of the first inning and looked dreadful. In the two-thirds thrown Hill threw 29 pitches, allowed two singles, a double, and a walk.
Hill, on the bright side, did throw his scheduled 60 pitches with the remainder of his 31 pitches coming from the bullpen. Per the report, Hill ensured that his outing wasn’t a setback:
"“Shoulder feels great, finger held up well,” Hill said. “Obviously it is disappointing in the fact that it was only two-thirds of an inning but from the other standpoint of getting the work in and everything that it was a success from the finger standpoint.”"
The Dodgers, on the other hand, should look at it as a setback and should handle Hill diligently. Hill signed a 3-year $48 million contract this past offseason to be a part of the one-two punch behind Clayton Kershaw.
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That plan has ultimately been disastrous for the Dodgers, ss Hill has only started two games and was placed on the 10-day DL on April 17 due to blisters. Yes, I said blisters!
It’s the same blisters that Hill dealt with all last season and was a concern when the Dodgers acquired Hill in a trade with the Oakland Athletics. The Dodgers shouldn’t be too surprised when looking at the injury history of Hill.
If Hill can reassemble his performance from last year’s postseason for the rest of this season it would be huge for this Dodgers team.
Especially, when you mix in Julio Urias and Brandon McCarthy, who have both given the Dodgers superb pitching with every start.
The starting rotation for the Dodgers has been shaky to start the season but are delivering for the most part. They have the sixth-best ERA and fourth in the least runs allowed in the MLB. Adding Hill to the mix will certainly improve those marks.
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Therefore, Dave Roberts must handle the Hill situation with care if he wants to make a run at the postseason. According to these Dodgers rumors, and Hill’s Rancho Cucamonga performance, he may not be quite ready.