The New York Yankees have bolstered their bullpen with the addition of veteran left-handed reliever Tim Hill on a one-year major league contract. Sources confirm the agreement, which comes after Hill’s recent designation for assignment by the Chicago White Sox due to a challenging stretch that saw his ERA rise to 5.87.
Despite this, Hill has maintained a remarkable statistic of not allowing a home run this season, showcasing a strong 65.6% groundball rate that ranks among the top in the league, trailing only Yankees closer Clay Holmes and Baltimore Orioles setup man Yennier Cano.
While Hill has struggled with his fastball this year, yielding 41 hits across 23 innings, his overall performance since his debut with the Kansas City Royals in 2018 has been solid. Over the past five years, he has posted a 3.88 ERA, contributing effectively out of the bullpen. After being non-tendered by the San Diego Padres, Hill signed a one-year, $1.8 million deal with the White Sox last December.
The Yankees, holding the best record in baseball at 51-25, continue to fortify their pitching staff amidst challenges. They recently lost Jonathan Loaisiga to Tommy John surgery and placed Ian Hamilton on the injured list, making the addition of Hill timely.
Under pitching coach Matt Blake, the Yankees boast the third-best bullpen ERA in the American League at 3.41, with notable contributions from right-handers Luke Weaver, Michael Tonkin, and Ron Marinaccio, all enjoying career-best seasons.
In addition to Hill, the Yankees have welcomed back ace Gerrit Cole to their rotation, further strengthening their pitching depth. Hill joins lefties Caleb Ferguson and Victor Gonzalez in what is shaping up to be a formidable bullpen for the Yankees as they pursue continued success in the season.