For nearly two full years, Tim Hill was one of the most reliable relievers in baseball. From when he joined the Yankees on June 20, 2024 until May 19 of this year, he made 128 appearances, 11th most of any pitcher in baseball. Of the 10 relievers who threw more innings, only two managed to best his 2.48 ERA. Trading on a 68.3-percent groundball rate — nearly five percentage points higher than any other pitcher — the southpaw held his own against righties while completely neutralizing lefties.
Hill’s
mid-30s career renaissance was a boon to the Yankees, who picked him up from the worst team in baseball for nothing and leveraged him in various roles as a key piece of their bullpen formula. “He’s a gamer,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s a dog. He is fearless. He’s really competitive and just an awesome teammate, someone that’s been a lot of fun to be around.”
Then the other shoe dropped.
Grade: D+
2025 Statistics: 58.2 IP, 4.60 ERA, 25 K, 92 ERA+, 5.93 FIP, 3.8 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, -1.1 fWAR
2026 Contract Status: Free Agent
Largely a one-pitch pitcher, Hill occasionally mixes in a cutter and four-seamer but relies on his sinker more than 80 percent of the time. But what happens when opposing batters figure out a one-pitch pitcher’s one pitch? Beginning with a May 22 appearance in which he allowed four runs (three earned) to the Rays without recording an out, Hill lost his Midas touch.
Entering that game, he had a sparkling 1.37 ERA on the season. From that day on, it was an untenable 6.23. Hill’s trademark ground-ball rate was more than halved, and after allowing 11 homers through nearly two years in pinstripes, he allowed another 11 down the stretch. Eight of those came against his sinker, a pitch whose calling card is its ability to keep the ball in the yard. The 36-year-old’s implosion culminated in his being left off the Yankees’ Wild Card roster, a stunning turn of events considering his importance to the ‘pen just a few months earlier.
“That was the one we deliberated on,” Boone said at the time of the decision to carry fellow lefty Ryan Yarbrough over Hill. “Going with 10 pitchers, Yarbs gives us a little more versatility and some length coverage. How their lineup sets up, there are some better runs for Yarbs in this series. I expect Tim to play a big role if we’re able to move forward.” It was the kind of pabulum that rankles much of the fanbase about Boone’s approach to the media; when the Yankees did indeed move forward and had to select their ALDS roster, Hill remained in exile.
When the World Series concludes, Hill will be a free agent. He’ll turn 37 in February and, given his sudden unraveling this season, it’s fair to wonder where his future lies. Perhaps some team will see the elite ground-ball rate that was his hallmark before the collapse and take a flier to see if they can unlock it again; reliable lefty relievers are always a hot commodity. Don’t expect a reunion with the Yankees, though. They got a lot of mileage after what was a reclamation project for them, as well, when they claimed him off waivers from the White Sox back in ‘24. If they couldn’t help the veteran hurler get back on track for the last few months of last season, it’s time to give someone else a try.
See more of the Yankees Roster Report Card series here.
