Perhaps more so than any other player in recent memory, Rich Hill has been dogged by blister trouble on the middle finger of his left throwing hand. That forced Hill to the disabled list at the time the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired him at the 2016 non-waiver trade deadline.
Hill battled blisters throughout the remainder of that season, and again in 2017 despite a belief that he’d made a full recovery. The same expectation was carried into this season, but beginning last month, Hill has fallen victim to finger trouble yet again.
It started with inflammation that was a result of a cracked fingernail. Hill then developed an infection in the area, and two starts after coming off the disabled list, began to develop another blister.
The Dodgers removed Hill from his May 13 start as a precaution, and he managed to make his next turn in the rotation. But he threw all of two pitches against the Washington Nationals before the blister ripped open, requiring another stint on the DL.
Having seemingly exhausted all possible remedies and treatments, Hill is next poised to petition MLB for permission to wear a form of protection upon returning, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Although rules prevent it, Hill said he wants to request from MLB a waiver to allow him to tape the finger during games.
“Hitters have batting gloves, and they get blisters all the time,” Hill said. “They can tape their hands and do whatever they need to do to grip the bat and swing. This is really something that wouldn’t be much different, in my opinion. I think it is an extremely valid point.”
No matter how valid his argument may be, Hill figures to be facing an uphill battle and likely denial for his request. Pitchers aren’t so much as permitted to wear a Band-Aid or Super Glue on either of their hands/fingers.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts isn’t optimistic Hill will gain MLB’s approval and previously estimated he would be sidelined for at least one month. Hill missed three weeks after being put on the disabled list in mid-April.
