When the Los Angeles Dodgers placed Rich Hill on the 10-day disabled list a second time this month, there were few answers on what to expect or what lied ahead. The only certainty appeared to be that Hill would this time miss more than 10 days.
Since landing on the DL, Hill has regularly continued to play catch prior to games. That seemed to suggest the Dodgers are against completely shutting down the 37-year-old.
On Saturday, Hill advanced to throwing a bullpen session while wearing a band-aid, and he’ll next attempt to pitch without the bandage, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Rich Hill said he wore a band-aid on his finger when throwing off the mound today.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) April 22, 2017
Hill expects to throw off a mound without the covering in a few days.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) April 22, 2017
Hill, who previously said he was searching for a ‘medical miracle,’ is using a rice bucket to treat the blister on his left middle finger per David Vassegh of A.M. 570 L.A. Sports Radio:
Rich Hill confirmed he's using rice bucket on a daily basis to help develop a callus on his left middle finger. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) April 22, 2017
Chronic blister trouble forced Hill to miss five weeks last season. He and the Dodgers have maintained this year’s issue is not as extreme.
Hill is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in two starts this season. He’s thrown a combined five innings, and had his last outing come to an end after three innings because of the blister. Hill warmed up to begin the fourth but was removed.
