Tim Hill Bio
Timothy Hill, born on February 10, 1990, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, and Chicago White Sox, building a career as a dependable left-handed relief pitcher. Hill was selected by the Royals in the 32nd round of the 2014 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2018. He is recognized for his resilience, having returned to the sport after a serious cancer diagnosis early in his professional career.
Across his MLB career, Hill has built a reputation as a steady left-handed reliever capable of handling high-leverage innings. After being traded to the Padres in 2020, he spent four seasons in San Diego before short stints with the White Sox and Yankees in 2024. He re-signed with the Yankees in 2025 and was honored with the Tony Conigliaro Award after the season.
Early Life and Background
Timothy Hill attended Granada Hills Charter High School in Los Angeles, California, where he played amateur baseball. Coming out of high school, Hill went undrafted in the MLB draft, a common path for late-blooming pitchers who need additional development. After finishing high school, he played his freshman year of college baseball at Palomar College, a junior college in Southern California known for producing professional talent.
Hill then transferred to Bacone College, a four-year institution where he continued to develop as a pitcher. In his senior year at Bacone, he posted a 10-2 win-loss record with a 1.89 earned run average (ERA), a strong performance that helped attract the attention of MLB scouts. His college trajectory, moving from a junior college to a smaller four-year program, reflected a steady, late-blooming path into professional baseball.
Path to Professional Baseball
The Kansas City Royals selected Hill in the 32nd round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, giving him his first opportunity in professional baseball. He signed with the organization and was assigned to the Idaho Falls Chukars and Lexington Legends during the 2014 season, combining for a 3-1 record and a 1.64 ERA across 22 innings pitched. That strong professional debut suggested the Royals had found a useful relief prospect.
Hill’s progress was interrupted in 2015, when he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer during spring training. He missed the entire 2015 season while undergoing treatment, including surgery to remove half of his colon and eight months of chemotherapy. After being cleared by his doctor in January 2016, Hill returned to the minor leagues, pitching for the Wilmington Blue Rocks and Northwest Arkansas Naturals, and was later added to the Royals’ 40-man roster following the 2017 season.
Tim Hill Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Hill made the Royals’ 25-man roster out of spring training in 2018 and made his MLB debut on Opening Day, March 29, against the Chicago White Sox. Facing Leury García as the first batter he saw, Hill hit him with a pitch in 1/3 of an inning. He finished the 2018 season with a 1-4 record and a 4.53 ERA across 45 2/3 innings, learning the demands of a full big-league season.
In 2019, Hill produced a 2-0 record with a 3.61 ERA over 39 2/3 innings for Kansas City, showing improvement in his second MLB season. His performance as a left-handed specialist helped establish his role in major-league bullpens.
Kansas City Royals Breakthrough (2018–2019)
Hill’s debut season in 2018 gave the Royals a young left-handed reliever, and his role expanded during the 2019 campaign. The Royals used him primarily in matchup situations against opposing left-handed hitters, a role in which his style and pitch mix fit naturally. His progression through 2019 reflected growing trust from the coaching staff.
San Diego Padres Era (2020–2023)
On July 16, 2020, the Royals traded Hill to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Franchy Cordero and Ronald Bolaños. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he pitched to a 3-0 record and a 4.50 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 6 walks in 18 innings across 23 appearances, quickly becoming a regular in the Padres’ bullpen.
Hill made 78 appearances for the Padres in 2021, compiling a 6-6 record and a 3.62 ERA with 56 strikeouts across 59 2/3 innings. In 2022, he accumulated a 3.56 ERA with 25 strikeouts across 55 contests. On January 13, 2023, Hill agreed to a one-year, $1.85 million contract with the Padres, avoiding salary arbitration. In 48 games that year, he recorded a 5.48 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings. After missing time with a sprained left ring finger, he underwent season-ending surgery in September 2023 and became a free agent that November.
Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees (2024)
Hill signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Chicago White Sox on December 28, 2023. In 27 appearances, he struggled to a 5.87 ERA with 13 strikeouts across 23 innings, and on June 12, 2024, the White Sox designated him for assignment before releasing him on June 18.
On June 20, 2024, Hill signed a one-year, major league contract with the New York Yankees. In 35 appearances for the Yankees in 2024, he posted a career-low 2.05 ERA with 18 strikeouts across 44 innings, finishing the full 2024 season with a 4-0 record and a 3.36 ERA over 67 innings. He became a free agent after the season.
New York Yankees Era (2025–Present)
On February 8, 2025, Hill re-signed with the Yankees on a one-year, $2.85 million contract with a $3 million club option for 2026. In 2025, he posted a 3.09 ERA and led all Yankees pitchers with 70 appearances, cementing his value as a high-volume reliever in the Bronx. After the season, Hill won the Tony Conigliaro Award, an honor given for overcoming adversity through spirit, determination, and courage.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hill is a left-handed relief pitcher whose game centers on limiting hard contact and inducing soft outs, often deployed as a specialist against left-handed hitters. His approach emphasizes command, angle, and tempo, allowing him to record outs efficiently in short stints. Across multiple organizations, he has served as a reliable bridge to late-inning relievers and a steady presence in middle relief.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hill’s MLB debut on Opening Day in 2018 marked his arrival in the majors after a long amateur and minor-league path. His return from stage 3 colon cancer in 2016 and his 2025 Tony Conigliaro Award stand as defining moments of perseverance. On March 12, 2026, Hill was added to the United States national baseball team for the World Baseball Classic as a substitute for Ryan Yarbrough, further extending his career on an international stage.
Tim Hill Career Wins
Across his MLB career, Hill has accumulated wins with the Royals, Padres, and Yankees, with his 2024 season in New York producing a perfect 4-0 record. His role as a reliever means his win totals reflect timely run support and effective setup work rather than starting-pitcher volume.
MLB Highlights
Hill recorded his first MLB appearances with the 2018 Royals, posting a 1-4 record in his debut year before going 2-0 in 2019. With the Padres, he posted a 3-0 mark in the shortened 2020 season and a 6-6 record in 2021, his highest single-season win total in the majors. His 2024 finish with the Yankees produced a perfect 4-0 record across both clubs.
Other Performances
In the minor leagues, Hill combined for strong seasons with Idaho Falls, Lexington, Wilmington, and Northwest Arkansas, including a 3-1 record and 1.64 ERA in 2014 and a 2-4 record with 62 strikeouts in 2016. His 10-2 senior year at Bacone College also stands as a notable amateur achievement.
Tim Hill Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Hill’s father died of colon cancer in 2006, a loss that preceded Hill’s own diagnosis nine years later. The Hill family has been touched by cancer in significant ways, and Hill himself has spoken about how his father’s battle shaped his perspective during his own treatment.
Hill was diagnosed with colon cancer during spring training of 2015 and had half of his colon removed before undergoing eight months of chemotherapy. He was cleared by his doctor in January 2016 and has Lynch syndrome, a genetic condition that can increase cancer risk. His recovery and continued MLB career have become central to his public story.
2025 Season Performance
Hill’s 2025 season with the New York Yankees marked a return to peak form, as he posted a 3.09 ERA and led all Yankees pitchers with 70 appearances. His heavy usage reflected the trust of the Yankees’ coaching staff in tight spots and high-leverage innings, even as the team navigated bullpen turnover throughout the year. He remained healthy for the duration of the season, an important factor given his history of finger and health setbacks.
Following the 2025 campaign, Hill was honored with the Tony Conigliaro Award, recognizing his perseverance following his 2015 colon cancer battle. His contract included a $3 million club option for 2026, and on March 12, 2026, he was added to the United States roster for the World Baseball Classic. Heading into 2026, Hill is positioned as a veteran left-handed option in the Yankees’ bullpen and a key member of Team USA’s pitching staff.
