When Rich Hill says last season was discouraging, its easy to understand. The left-hander began the season with Triple-A Pawtucket, where he posted a record of 1-0, with a 1.13 ERA and one save in 10 appearances, spanning 16 innings, before being called up to the Red Sox for his season debut May 5. In nine games, and eight innings, Hill did not give up a run. Combined with his six scoreless appearances over four innings for the Sox in 2010, he is the first pitcher with 15 scoreless innings to start his Sox career.
But his last appearance came on June 1 against the White Sox.
With one out in the seventh inning, Hill entered to face Adam Dunn. But on his seventh pitch, Hill walked Dunn, and walked off the mound clutching his left elbow. It wasnt until the next morning, after an MRI, that Hill would realize the extent of the injury.
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He would need season-ending Tommy John surgery, which he underwent on June 9.
Those things happen, said Hill. You never know. It gives a good perspective on every time you go out there... thats part of sports, and you deal with it.
Now Hill, who turns 32 in March, is seven months into his rehab. He reached a milestone in the process earlier this week when he began throwing off a mound for the first time, with a catcher standing up.
Just throwing at about 50 percent, he said. But as far as long toss goes, Ive gotten out there pretty good about 150 feet, throwing it on a line. The ball's coming out great and everything feels like its headed in the right direction.
The elbow has to get used to pitching again, as far as that torque that you add to it from the incline of the mount. The long toss has been great. Ive been able to throw the ball just as good or better than I had prior to the surgery.
His rehab is on schedule. Hes now throwing three times a week.
Sometimes youd like it to be every day, he said. You get that feel for throwing, and as a pitcher you get the feel for the baseball and the feel for the ball coming off your hand and you want to continue with that. But again you got to stick with the plan.
Hill began throwing with a sidearm delivery before last season. He doesnt think the surgery will affect his delivery, but hasnt given it a full tryout yet.
Ive come down a little bit, he said. Ive been throwing over the top with the rehab, and the ball was coming out great. I dont know how to describe it. I came down a couple times and experimented or tried it out and it felt awesome.
Hill, a Milton native who lives in South Boston, has been working out at Fenway Park during the offseason. He has not talked with new pitching coach Bob McClure yet, but his trips to Fenway have given him a chance to get to know his new manager.
Ive talked with Bobby Valentine a few times now going into Fenway, doing rehab and working out and throwing, Hill said. Hes seen me throw and Ive had some good talks about the rehab process and staying on track and making sure I follow the program and take my time and not get too far ahead of myself.
Hill had labrum surgery on his shoulder in August 2009. That process has helped him through his current program.
With my shoulder surgery I didnt feel 100 percent back until the middle of 2010, he said. People had said it would take probably 18 months to feel 100 percent strength and back to normal again. There were spurts of it where I felt great and everything was cleaned out and felt strong again. But I remember in spring training in 2010 it was a struggle for me as far as arm strength, arm slot, release point. Everything was kind of a mess. So it was relearning how to make the shoulder work efficiently with the mechanics that I had. I think the shoulder was probably, right now up to this point, harder to rehab for me than the elbow.
However, with that said, with the shoulder strength thats there now it makes it easier for the elbow rehab, because the strength has already been built up in the shoulder. It was probably stronger than I ever could have gotten it with the program thats been put in place with the Red Sox, and it makes the elbow rehab that much smoother.
Hill was granted free agency on Dec, 12, when the Sox non-tendered him, only to re-sign on Dec. 30.
I think with everything, the relationships that were built and the opportunity for myself as well as for the Red Sox to continue this, the relationship has been very positive, he said. I think just to focus on I guess moving forward and getting signed early its a great opportunity and its going to work out. I feel very, very positive about coming back and the way the rehab has gone so far, as it seems right now, everything is going to come back 100 percent.
Hill, whose wife had the couples first child, a son Brice on Oct. 7, is planning to head to Fort Myers in the next week or so. Hes not expected to be fully healthy until midseason, but he already has his sights set on the next major milestone in his rehab.
Pitching, he said. Just getting back to pitching.