At 45 years old, Rich Hill is now the oldest player in the Major Leagues.

▲ The Royals pitcher stayed on the mound for five innings against the Cubs. AP Photo

Ap

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, p. a31

Chicago. In his return to the major leagues to become the oldest active player, Rich Hill was disappointed. His Kansas City Royals teammates didn't make things easy for the 45-year-old left-hander against the Chicago Cubs, who won convincingly 6-0 at Wrigley Field.

Hill allowed three runs and six hits in five innings in his first league appearance since last September with Boston. He threw 90 pitches (55 swings), walked two, and struck out one before Jonathan Bowlan took over in the sixth with Chicago up 3-0.

Despite looking solid on the mound, the veteran struggled in the second inning, throwing 31 pitches and allowing two unearned runs.

After Dansby Swanson led off the inning with a single, third baseman Nick Loftin dropped Ian Happ's sharp grounder into a potential double play . Venezuelan first baseman Salvador Pérez threw Happ out at second on Justin Turner's grounder, but missed Jonathan India's return throw, into what should have been a double play .

Matt Shaw hit an infield single that drove in a run, and Nico Hoerner added another on a fielder's choice. Pete Crow-Armstrong drove in the final run against Hill in the fifth inning with a double off right fielder Jac Caglianone.

This game marked Hill's debut in his 21st major league season and his first with Kansas City. The Royals are his 14th team, tying Edwin Jackson's record.