Health was a big issue for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, as they placed a Major League record 28 different players on the disabled list. Injuries led to the team using 55 players and 31 pitchers, which both tied franchise records.
The pitching staff in particular was hit hard, with the likes of Brett Anderson, Brandon McCarthy, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Alex Wood all failing to contribute much. In addition, Clayton Kershaw missed 10 weeks while recovering from a bulging disc in his back.
Another who dealt with injury in 2016 was Rich Hill, both with the Dodgers and Oakland Athletics. At the time of trading for Hill, the veteran left-hander was on the 15-day disabled list due to a nagging blister.
Hill’s debut with the Dodgers was delayed due to multiple blisters, and they were a constant issue throughout the second half of the season.
Hill said during the offseason he overcame the blister trouble, and recently added he’s prepared to make a full season’s worth of starts in 2017, according to Bill Plunkett of the O.C. Register:
“I would never go there and say I can’t go 32 starts. I’m fully prepared to make 32 starts,” Hill said. “I come in prepared. I did all the work this offseason – as I do every year.
Between the Athletics and Dodgers in 2016 Hill went 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA, 2.39 FIP and 1.00 WHIP. He was limited to 20 starts and 110.1 innings pitched. In six starts with the Dodgers after returning from the blister injury, Hill went 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA.
The 36-year-old has not made 32 starts in a season since 2007 when he was a member of the Chicago Cubs. He figures to slide behind Clayton Kershaw as the Dodgers’ No. 2 starter, just as he was to close out last season.
Hill was one of the team’s key free agents that the Dodgers were able re-sign. The three-year, $48 million contract marked the first significant deal of the veteran’s career.
Hill threw two scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in his 2017 Spring Training debut. While the outing was a success, Hill said there is room for improvement.
