**BALTIMORE —** The Red Sox have officially signed left-hander Rich Hill to a minor league contract, with plans to assign the 44-year-old to Triple-A Worcester. Hill, a native of Milton, Massachusetts, will join the Worcester squad as the Red Sox look to bolster their pitching depth.
Manager Alex Cora commented on Hill’s signing before the Sox’s 4-2 loss to the Orioles in the final game of their four-game series. “Let’s see what happens,” Cora said. “He’s going to Worcester first, and there are no guarantees. If all goes well, he could start, open, or come in during high-leverage situations. But first, we need to get him back on the mound and competing.”
Hill, who has been coaching his son Brice’s travel baseball team, recently showcased his skills in front of several teams, including the Red Sox. With James Paxton sidelined due to a calf strain that is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season, adding Hill became a logical move for the team.
Hill’s tenure with the Red Sox spans eight periods over his 19-year career, with his most recent stint in 2022, where he posted a 4.27 ERA across 26 starts. On Sunday, Hill threw a bullpen session for Worcester, with top catching prospect Kyle Teel behind the plate. Although Hill will travel with the team to Norfolk, it remains uncertain when he will make his debut.
Cora expressed confidence in Hill’s preparation and professionalism. “He’s been diligent with his work and staying on top of everything throughout the year,” Cora said. “He’s been doing workouts and throwing bullpens. I don’t know how long it will take if we need him, but I trust that he’ll be ready.”
Despite Cora’s cautious stance on Hill’s immediate impact, the Red Sox clearly need the veteran left-hander, especially after being forced to use an opener in a recent loss. With the bullpen struggling and overworked, Hill’s ability to provide innings could be crucial. If not used as a starter, Hill might pair with Cooper Criswell in games, with Hill’s vertical approach complementing Criswell’s horizontal one.
In other updates, Justin Slaten (elbow) is scheduled for a bullpen session on Monday, while Liam Hendriks (elbow) made his first rehab appearance since Tommy John surgery, pitching a scoreless inning with 12 pitches. Hendriks is expected to make 6-8 appearances before rejoining the major league team.
Connor Wong has struggled defensively, ranking poorly in blocks and pitch framing. The Red Sox will face the Astros in a three-game series starting Monday, with Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta, and Criswell slated to start.
The Astros, having recently swept the Sox, will feature Yusei Kikuchi and Ronel Blanco for the first two games, with Justin Verlander potentially starting the series finale. Kikuchi has been particularly effective, holding opponents to a .167/.242/.300 slash line in his recent outings.
