Blisters have been an issue for Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill since the middle of last season. They limited him to just 20 starts in 2016 and now have twice forced Hill to the 10-day disabled list.
After coming off the DL on April 16, he was able to make it through just three innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks before being removed from the game. The Dodgers and Hill were at a loss over the recurring blister trouble, and offered little answers or clarity on what lied ahead.
What did seem certain is Hill would this time spend more than 10 days on the disabled list. While that’s been the case, he’s continued to play catch and recently advanced to throwing bullpen sessions.
Using a slew of remedies, Hill said his blister has improved with each passing day, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Hill has been using an assortment of remedies including Drysol (an antiperspirant solution), putting his hand in a rice bucket each day and former Dodgers trainer Stan Johnston’s anti-blister ointment. Hill said the Dodgers’ medical staff has even looked into the research on blisters but most of it applies to foot blisters suffered by distance runners.
“The only thing that’s going to heal it is time,” Hill said. “Unfortunately that and throwing and toughening it up every time you go out there. The treatments have succeeded in toughening up the skin on his finger,” Hill said.
The 37-year-old threw a bullpen session on Monday with a bandage on his middle finger, and is expected to throw on Wednesday, though without the bandage.
The Dodgers re-signed Hill to a three-year, $48 million deal in the offseason for him to be the team’s second starter behind Clayton Kershaw. When healthy, Hill has pitched as well as anyone.
Last season he went a combined 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA, 2.39 FIP and 1.00 WHIP with the Dodgers and Oakland Athletics. In the six starts for the Dodgers, Hill was 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA. He also made three postseason starts, yielding a 3.46 ERA.
Los Angeles has not yet determined if the chronic blister will force Hill to a role out of the bullpen. The veteran southpaw is expected to complete a rehab assignment prior to being reinstated from the disabled list.
