Lingering blister trouble had Rich Hill on the disabled list at the time the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired him from the Oakland Athletics at the 2016 non-waiver trade deadline. He battled chronic issue for the remainder of the season and into 2017.
That was despite assertions from Hill and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts that the blisters were behind the veteran southpaw. Despite a stint on the 10-day disabled list, Hill managed to make 25 starts last season.
It was an encouraging showing in the first year of a three-year, $48 million contract. Despite being further removed from a rocky season in which he was dogged by blisters, Hill is again saddled by the ailment.
He threw all of two pitches on Saturday before coming out because a blister in the middle of his throwing hand ripping open. He was backed by a Dodgers bullpen that answered the bell to complete a doubleheader sweep of the Washington Nationals.
Hill likened the latest trouble to the blister that affected him throughout the 2016 season, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“As frustrating as it is for everyone I feel like it’s three times worse for me,” Hill said. “I want to go out there and pitch. That’s it. And this is preventing me from doing that. Not a fun time.”
Hill was sidelined for two months (one at a time) in 2016 and said the current blister is “as bad as it was two years ago but not as big.” In both cases, the skin ripped open on the pad of his middle fingertip.
“It’s not as big as it was but the skin did completely tear open,” Hill said.
Hill previously dealt with trouble in the finger when he was forced to the 10-day DL last month because of inflammation. A cracked fingernail then became infected, delaying his return.
Hill came out of his second start since returning from the disabled list due to the blister beginning to flare up. He and Roberts didn’t express concern over it and both expected Hill to make his scheduled start on Saturday.
That was solidified when the 37-year-old successfully threw a bullpen session at Marlins Park. Considering the severity of his blister, Hill is expected to miss an extended period of time during his second stint on the disabled list this season.
