Ever since the Los Angeles Dodgers traded for him at the deadline in 2016, start Rich Hill has been plagued by blister issues on the fingers of his throwing hand.
Hill lasted just two pitches in his start over the weekend against the Washington Nationals before being removed from the game because the blister on his left middle finger ripped open. It was the same finger Hill dealt with inflammation and an infection in last month.
The Dodgers placed the veteran left-hander on the 10-day disabled list, and manager Dave Roberts estimated that the injury would cause Hill to miss around four weeks, although now that seems to be up in the air.
Hill has been able to continue throwing with tape over the blister, and he tossed another bullpen session on Wednesday. Roberts isn’t completely certain of Hill’s throwing plan moving forward, but is maintaining his original timetable to be true, via Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
“I don’t know Rich’s plan right now,” Roberts said. “That’s more on the pitching guys and the training staff. I’m going to still hold to my four weeks [estimate] to get him in a big league game.”
With Hill throwing with tape on the finger just about every day since being placed on the disabled list, it has become clear that is a possible solution to his blister issues. He mentioned petitioning Major League Baseball to allow him to pitch with tape on his middle finger in games, something no pitcher has ever been allowed to do.
Regardless of whether is able to return earlier than expected or not, him still being able to throw while he is out is good news. That will keep his arm in shape and therefore won’t require that he going through a building up process that’s seen during Spring Training.
However, it can still be reasonably expected that the Dodgers may have Hill go out on a rehab assignment before activating him. If for nothing else but to ensure the blister doesn’t once again open after a few pitches.
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