Reports: Royals call up LHP Rich Hill, 45, for 21st season

The Kansas City Royals are calling up Rich Hill from Triple-A Omaha for what will be the 45-year-old left-hander’s 21st season, multiple outlets reported Monday.

He will be the oldest active player in the major leagues and will also tie fellow pitcher Edwin Jackson’s record by playing for his 14th team.

Hill most recently played for the Boston Red Sox last season. He was 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in four relief appearances before being designated for assignment by his hometown team in September.

He has pitched for the Chicago Cubs (2005-08), Baltimore (2009), Red Sox (2010-12, 2015, 2022, 2024), Cleveland (2013), Los Angeles Angels (2014), New York Yankees (2014), Oakland (2016), Los Angeles Dodgers (2016-19), Minnesota (2020), Tampa Bay (2021), New York Mets (2021), Pittsburgh (2023) and San Diego (2023).

His career record is 90-74 with a 4.01 ERA, 543 walks and 1,428 strikeouts in 1,409 innings over 386 games (248 starts).

The Royals entered Monday 12 games behind the first-place Detroit Tigers in the American League Central. They visit the Cubs on Monday night for the start of a three-game series.