When Rich Hill was non-tendered by the Boston Red Sox earlier this month, I had said that it wouldn’t surprise me if they re-signed him to a minor league deal. And that’s exactly what has happened.
John Tomase of the Boston Herald was the first to learn that the Red Sox have re-signed Hill to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.
Hill was having a great season with the Red Sox last season before he blew out of his elbow on June 1st and then underwent Tommy John surgery weeks later. He spent the rest of the season rehabbing with the team and was part of the bullpen band during games.
He made nine appearances for the Red Sox last year, throwing eight innings and striking out 12. In his 15 appearances with the Red Sox between 2010 and 2011, Hill has not allowed a run.
Hill had been the best lefty in the Red Sox bullpen after others failed. One could say the loss of Hill hurt the bullpen a little as no lefty was able to match what Hill was able to do.
While it doesn’t appear he’ll be ready for the start of the 2012 season, I would expect that once Hill is healthy, he’ll be back with the big club and hopefully doing what he’s done in the past out of the bullpen.
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Photo credit: AP Photo
