Padres Acquire LHP Tim Hill From Kansas City
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres have acquired left-handed pitcher Tim Hill from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for outfielder Franchy Cordero and right-handed pitcher Ronald Bolaños, Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller announced today.
Hill, 30, split the 2019 season between Triple-A Omaha and the Royals, posting a 3.63 ERA (16 ER, 39.2 IP) in three separate stints at the Major League-level (46 relief appearances) with a .217 opponent’s average. After making his second-career Opening Day roster, the southpaw held left-handed hitters to a .186 (11-for-59) clip in 2019, including a .111 (3-for-27) opponent’s average against lefties from August 9 through season’s end. He ranked fourth in the majors in total inherited runners (50 IR, stranding 34) and eighth among American League pitchers in groundball rate (57.3 percent), min. 40 appearances. Over his final 40 appearances of the year for KC (beginning on June 23), the 6–4, 200-pound side-armer went 2–0 with one save and a 3.28 ERA (13 ER, 35.2 IP).
The Mission Hills, Calif. native has made 116 career appearances (all in relief) with KC since making his Major League debut in 2018, posting a career 3–4 record with three saves, 81 strikeouts against 27 walks and a 4.11 ERA (39 ER, 85.1 IP). In his rookie season in 2018, he led AL rookies in appearances (70), led all AL pitchers in total inherited runners (51) and held left-handed batters to a .230 (17-for-74) clip with two extra-base hits. Hill was originally signed by KC as 32nd-round selection in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Bacone College (Okla.).
