This Spring Training is much different than a year ago for Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill. His blister issues are now behind him and he can get focused on being ready for his first outing of the regular season whenever his turn in the rotation comes up.
Other than Hyun-Jin Ryu, who was scratched from his scheduled start on Wednesday due to illness, Hill is the only one of the Dodgers projected five starters that has not yet pitched in a Cactus League game. But Hill did find his way onto a mound in a game-like atmosphere Wednesday.
It came in a simulated environment against Minor League batters on a backfield at Camelback Ranch. Hill completed three innings, throwing just over 40 pitches.
While it wasn’t in an actual game, Hill was the team’s first pitcher to throw three innings so far this spring. He explained why he decided to extend his outing that long, via Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
“It was just me-related,” Hill said. “You have to build up. This was the first time I’ve gotten up three times since last year. And the next outing, I’d like to be ready to go, three, maybe four innings.”
Hill also discussed why he decided to go the route of throwing on the back fields for his first outing as opposed to a Cactus League game:
“It’s efficient, being able to have a controlled environment in the beginning,” Hill said. “Where you can experiment a little bit more, and stuff like that. I don’t really like going out to games and experimenting with pitches, when you’re trying to compete and get guys out.”
When the soon-to-be 38-year-old will take the mound next has yet to be determined. Although, Hill indicated that it would likely be in a Major League game and he would like to try to extend to four innings.
