Meet the newest Dodgers: Rich Hill

LHP RICH HILL

Age: 36

Background: A fourth-round pick out of the University of Michigan in 2002, Hill made the majors three years later with the Chicago Cubs. He split time as a starter and a reliever in the majors and minors with limited success over the next six seasons before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2011. By mid-summer 2015, he was out of baseball and signed with the independent Long Island Ducks. Given another chance by the Boston Red Sox last season, Hill has emerged as a quality starter, going 11-4 with a 2.06 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 18 starts over the past year.

Scouting report: Hill has one of the best curveballs in baseball, comparing favorably to fellow lefties Clayton Kershaw and Gio Gonzalez, which he throws at a more frequent rate than almost any other pitcher in baseball. That leads to a high strikeout rate (10.66 per nine iings this season). Hill is currently on the DL with persistent blister problems on his pitching hand.

Acquired from A’s

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