The Kansas City Royals have promoted Rich Hill to their Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Storm Chasers, as part of a series of transactions Wednesday night.
Along with Hill, the Storm Chasers will be getting infielder Cavan Biggio and catcher Luke Maile, who have been activated. Outfielder Nelson Velasquez has been released.
The following roster moves have been made:
– LHP Rich Hill has been transferred to Omaha from ACL Royals (R).
– INF Cavan Biggio has been activated.
– C Luke Maile has been activated.
– OF Nelson Velázquez has been released. pic.twitter.com/NGIHtHvXj2
— Omaha Storm Chasers (@OMAStormChasers) May 28, 2025
Biggio was optioned to Triple-A after a slow start to the season in the majors, where he was hitting .174/.296/.246 in 37 games with Kansas City. Because Biggio has five years in MLB, he could have declined to go to Omaha and elected free agency.
Maile has appeared in three games this year for the Royals, going 3-for-8 with a solo homer.
Hill, 45, has played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball for 13 different teams. Should he appear in an MLB game for Kansas City, it would be the 14th team he played for in his career, tying a record set by right-hander Edwin Jackson, who played for 14 teams in 17 MLB seasons. He threw eight innings over two appearances with the Arizona Complex League Royals, posting a 4.50 ERA and striking out 13.
In November, Hill pitched for Team USA at the 2024 WBSC Premier12, helping the team to a third-place finish, making three starts and allowing five hits over 10 1/3 innings, allowing just one unearned run while notching 14 strikeouts against just two walks. He held Samurai Japan scoreless for four innings at the Tokyo Dome in the Super Round on Nov. 21, 2024, allowing one hit and striking out five.
A native of Milton, Mass., Hill appeared in four games for the Boston Red Sox in 2024, throwing 3 2/3 innings in relief. Over 20 seasons, Hill has compiled 17.1 bWAR, an ERA of 4.01, and a WHIP of 1.259 in 1,409 innings, with a record of 90-74.
Photo: Cavan Biggio (18) at bat during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
