CHICAGO — The Kansas City Royals plan to call up 45-year-old pitcher Rich Hill from the minors for a start against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, marking the left-hander's 21st season in the majors. Hill has been at Triple-A Omaha after joining the Royals as part of an offseason trade. He is 4-4 with a 5.36 ERA in nine starts at Omaha.

July 22 (UPI) -- The Kansas City Royals plan to promote Rich Hill from Triple-A, which will make the 45-year-old pitcher the oldest active player in MLB. Royals manager Matt Quatraro confirmed the move Monday night. Hill will start against the Chicago Cubs -- the team that drafted him in 2002 -- on Tuesday in Chicago.

When the 2002 fourth-round picks makes his Kansas City debut, he will tie Edwin Jackson’s MLB record by playing for his 14th team. The 6-foot-5 Boston native last pitched in the majors in September 2024 for the Red Sox.