Tim Hill Bio
Timothy Hill, born on February 10, 1990, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a member of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed relief pitcher, Hill has built a career as a dependable middle-inning and situational arm, having previously played for the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, and Chicago White Sox. He was selected by the Royals in the 32nd round of the 2014 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2018.
Over the course of his MLB career, Hill has been recognized for his consistency and resilience, including earning the Tony Conigliaro Award after the 2025 season. His path to the majors was marked by a serious health battle during his early development, and he has since become known for his durability and craft on the mound.
Early Life and Background
Timothy Hill was born on February 10, 1990, and grew up in the Los Angeles area of California. He attended Granada Hills Charter High School, where he developed as a baseball player but went undrafted by professional teams after his senior year. To continue his playing career, Hill first attended Palomar College as a freshman, taking the junior college route that is common for late-blooming prospects.
Hill later transferred to Bacone College, a four-year program, where he completed his amateur career. In his senior season at Bacone, he posted an impressive 10-2 win-loss record with a 1.89 earned run average, drawing the attention of Major League scouts. This breakout college performance set the stage for his entry into professional baseball.
Path to Professional Baseball
Following his successful senior year at Bacone College, Hill was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 32nd round of the 2014 MLB draft. He signed with the organization and was assigned to the rookie-level Idaho Falls Chukars and the Class-A Lexington Legends during his first professional season, posting a combined 3-1 record and a 1.64 ERA in 22 innings pitched. That winter, however, his young career was put on hold.
During spring training in 2015, Hill was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer, the same disease that had taken the life of his father in 2006. Half of his colon was removed, and he underwent eight months of chemotherapy before being cleared by his doctor in January 2016. Hill has since been identified as having Lynch syndrome, a hereditary condition linked to a higher risk of certain cancers.
Tim Hill Career
Minor League Development (2014-2017)
After his cancer treatment and recovery, Hill returned to the Royals organization in 2016, splitting time between the Wilmington Blue Rocks and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. He combined for a 2-4 record and a 3.43 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 63 innings across both clubs. In 2017, Hill again played for both affiliates, going 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA across 40 total games. The Royals added him to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season, recognizing both his talent and perseverance.
Kansas City Royals (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, pitching one-third of an inning in relief against the Chicago White Sox. He hit the first batter he faced, Leury García. He finished the 2018 season going 1-4 with a 4.53 ERA over 45 2/3 innings. In 2019, Hill was a steady presence in the Royals’ bullpen, going 2-0 with a 3.61 ERA in 39 2/3 innings.
San Diego Padres (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, Hill pitched to a 3-0 record and 4.50 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 18 innings across 23 appearances. He became a fixture in the Padres’ bullpen over the next three seasons, making 78 appearances in 2021 with a 6-6 record and 3.62 ERA, and accumulating a 3.56 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 55 contests in 2022. On January 13, 2023, Hill agreed to a one-year, $1.85 million contract with the Padres, avoiding salary arbitration. In 48 games for San Diego in 2023, he posted a 5.48 ERA before a sprained left ring finger led to season-ending surgery in September. He was non-tendered and became a free agent on November 17.
Chicago White Sox (2024)
Hill signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Chicago White Sox on December 28, 2023. He struggled during his time in Chicago, posting a 5.87 ERA with 13 strikeouts across 23 innings in 27 appearances. On June 12, 2024, the White Sox designated him for assignment, and the organization released him on June 18.
New York Yankees (2024-Present)
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 pitched. He finished the 2024 season going 4-0 with a 3.36 ERA over 67 innings pitched. 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. He recorded a 3.09 ERA and led all Yankees pitchers with 70 appearances during the 2025 season, then won the Tony Conigliaro Award.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hill is a left-handed relief pitcher known for inducing soft contact and limiting hard-hit balls, with particular effectiveness against same-handed hitters. He relies on command and deception rather than overpowering velocity, making him a trusted situational matchup arm. His durability has been a defining trait, leading the Yankees staff in appearances in 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hill’s MLB debut on Opening Day 2018 marked the realization of a comeback story that began with his cancer diagnosis. He earned the Tony Conigliaro Award after the 2025 season, honoring perseverance and courage in the face of adversity. His career-low 2.05 ERA with the Yankees in 2024 underscored his effectiveness as a late-career bullpen arm.
Tim Hill Career Wins
Across his MLB career with the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees, Tim Hill has accumulated multiple wins as a relief pitcher. His most productive winning stretch came with the Padres during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, and he went undefeated with a 4-0 record in 2024 while splitting time between the White Sox and Yankees.
Kansas City Royals Highlights
Hill went 3-4 over his two full seasons with the Royals, recording his first MLB win during the 2018 campaign. He finished 2-0 in 2019 with a 3.61 ERA across 39 2/3 innings as a reliable left-handed option out of the bullpen.
San Diego Padres Highlights
Hill went 9-6 across his three-plus seasons with the Padres, including a perfect 3-0 record during the 2020 pandemic-shortened season. His 2021 campaign was his most extensive, posting a 6-6 record and 3.62 ERA over 78 appearances.
Tim Hill Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Tim Hill’s father died of colon cancer in 2006, a loss that shaped his personal life and later his own medical journey. The shared experience with the disease became a defining part of his identity as a professional athlete.
Personal Life
Hill was diagnosed with colon cancer during spring training in 2015 and underwent colon removal surgery and eight months of chemotherapy before being cleared in January 2016. He has been identified as having Lynch syndrome, a hereditary cancer condition, and has spoken about his commitment to raising awareness of early cancer detection.
2025 Season Performance
Tim Hill’s 2025 campaign with the New York Yankees was one of the most extensive of his career. He appeared in 70 games, leading all Yankees pitchers in appearances, and finished with a 3.09 ERA. His reliability as a left-handed specialist helped stabilize the bullpen throughout the regular season.
Following the season, Hill was honored with the Tony Conigliaro Award, which recognizes a player who has overcome adversity through spirit, determination, and courage. The award added a meaningful milestone to a year that also saw him re-sign with the Yankees on a one-year, $2.85 million contract with a $3 million club option for 2026.
Heading into 2026, Hill is positioned to remain a key piece of the Yankees’ bullpen, with his club option expected to be exercised. His continued health and durability remain central storylines, and he is widely regarded as a model of perseverance in professional baseball.