The New York Yankees have a rich history of unearthing underappreciated gems, revitalizing careers, and extracting untapped potential from players who might seem like afterthoughts on the surface. The latest chapter in this story features Tim Hill, a left-handed reliever who has breathed new life into his career since joining the Yankees. Hill’s time with New York has been nothing short of remarkable, and it’s clear that the relationship between the player and the team is mutually beneficial. Hill’s unique skill set makes him an asset in a Yankees bullpen that has faced its share of challenges, while the Yankees’ pitching infrastructure has unlocked a level of performance in Hill that he hadn’t achieved previously.
The Yankees’ Bullpen Revamp
For years, the Yankees’ bullpen has been regarded as one of the most formidable in baseball. They’ve consistently had arms that can throw 100 mph, strike out batters at alarming rates, and dominate late innings. But something was missing in 2024, especially from the left side. Wandy Peralta, a reliable lefty in the pen, left a hole when he departed the team. Hill, a 34-year-old left-handed side armer, stepped into that void, bringing a much-needed different look and an uncanny ability to keep batters off balance.
The Yankees’ bullpen has struggled to maintain its usual dominance, ranking fifth-worst in bullpen ERA since mid-June. This is where Hill’s unique approach provides immense value. Unlike many of his flame-throwing colleagues, Hill relies on deception, movement, and ground balls rather than pure power to get outs. His funky, sidearm delivery from the left side isn’t just rare; it’s nearly extinct. That alone makes Hill an intriguing fit for the Yankees, but it’s his actual results that make this a match made in baseball heaven.
Let’s not sugarcoat it—Hill was struggling earlier in 2024. He posted a disappointing 5.87 ERA with the Chicago White Sox, where he seemed to be a misfit in a bullpen that couldn’t figure him out. A low-leverage reliever on a team spiraling out of contention, Hill’s career appeared to be in limbo. But when the Yankees scooped him up, they did so with the knowledge that Hill’s struggles were more an issue of circumstance than skill. A veteran of six big-league seasons and a battle-tested postseason arm, Hill had the tools; he just needed the right stage.
In his first eight outings with New York, Hill recorded a sparkling 2.38 ERA, allowing only two earned runs over 11.1 innings. His WHIP stood at 0.97, and batters hit just .234 against him. That sharp turnaround suggests something major has clicked for Hill in pinstripes, and much of that success can be attributed to how the Yankees’ coaching staff has tweaked his approach.
If there’s one thing the Yankees are known for, it’s reviving the careers of pitchers who seem to be on the downside. Hill’s resurgence is the latest in a long line of pitchers who have come to the Bronx and rediscovered their best form. The Yankees’ coaching staff excels at maximizing what pitchers already do well, rather than overhauling them. Hill’s funky sidearm delivery and ground ball-inducing style are ideally suited to Yankee Stadium’s dimensions, where keeping the ball out of the air is essential.
The Yankees have honed in on a couple of key adjustments that have made Hill even more effective. First, they’ve lowered his release point on his sinker and slider, leading to more vertical movement and inducing more ground balls than ever. In fact, Hill’s ground ball rate since joining the Yankees is an elite 67.7%, up from an already impressive 65.6% earlier in the season. He’s become a weapon that induces weak contact, keeping hitters guessing with his low arm slot and tricky delivery.
With his sinker, Hill has seen a massive uptick in effectiveness. The Yankees have helped him increase the pitch’s vertical drop, making it harder for hitters to get under the ball. As a result, Hill’s average launch angle allowed is an absurd -7.3 degrees. Essentially, every time a batter makes contact, the ball is driven into the ground. In an era where home runs dominate, Hill’s ability to suppress the long ball is a tremendous asset.
Hill’s left-handed, sidearm delivery is a dying breed in Major League Baseball. There simply aren’t many pitchers who throw from such a low arm slot and still manage to be effective. But this is part of what makes Hill so valuable. His release point is so low that it comes with a built-in element of deception. Left-handed hitters, in particular, have a nightmarish time picking up the ball from Hill’s hand, which allows him to generate outs with relative ease.
Hill’s slider, thrown from that same low release point, has become a devastating weapon, particularly against left-handed hitters. The Yankees have worked with him to increase the spin rate on the pitch, and the results speak for themselves. Since joining the team, Hill’s slider has been generating more swings and misses than it did in Chicago, thanks to better vertical movement and more deception.
The Yankees desperately needed a reliable left-handed option in the bullpen, and Hill has been exactly that. Lefty specialists are hard to come by in today’s game, especially ones who can also hold their own against right-handed batters. Hill’s delivery, sinker-slider combination, and ability to induce weak contact have made him an essential piece of the Yankees’ relief corps. He’s become the go-to lefty when the Yankees need a ground ball, and his ability to escape high-leverage situations has already been on display.
Case in point: Hill recently found himself in a bases-loaded jam against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays. With the game hanging in the balance, Hill managed to escape the inning unscathed, getting the ground ball he needed to get out of trouble. Performances like that build trust with managers and fans alike, and Hill’s ability to perform under pressure is exactly what the Yankees have been missing.
Hill’s acquisition was a classic Yankees move. After being released by the White Sox, he was scooped up on a low-cost, low-risk deal, the kind of savvy front office move that can pay huge dividends down the stretch. The Yankees, knowing they had a bullpen that needed patching, didn’t make a flashy trade deadline deal. Instead, they found a veteran arm who needed a change of scenery and a few tweaks. Hill has proven to be a high-reward addition, and his impact goes beyond his stat line.
New York is a tough place to play. The spotlight is relentless, and the expectations are sky-high. Not everyone can handle the pressure that comes with putting on the pinstripes. But Tim Hill’s journey to this point in his career suggests that he’s built for this moment. Hill is a cancer survivor, having battled and beaten colon cancer earlier in his career. That kind of resilience and mental toughness is exactly what’s required to pitch in high-leverage situations in New York.
The Yankees have long been a team that values grit and perseverance, and Hill’s personal story fits right into that mold. His comeback from adversity makes him easy to root for, and his ability to handle the pressure of pitching in Yankee Stadium shows that he has the mental makeup needed to thrive in the Bronx.
Hill isn’t just some journeyman reliever. He’s been in the pressure cooker before, pitching in the postseason with the San Diego Padres. That experience is invaluable for a Yankees team with its eyes set on a deep playoff run. As the Yankees push toward October, Hill’s presence in the bullpen provides stability and a sense of calm. He’s been there before, and he knows what it takes to succeed in the playoffs.
For the Yankees, having a pitcher like Hill who can be trusted in crucial playoff moments is huge. While their bullpen has been shaky at times, especially in tight situations, Hill offers a proven commodity with a track record of success in October. His ability to generate ground balls and keep the ball in the park is precisely what the Yankees need in high-leverage spots during the postseason.
At 34 years old, Tim Hill could have been written off as a pitcher in decline. Instead, he’s found new life with the Yankees, and the Bronx Bombers have given him the platform to showcase his talents on the biggest stage. For Hill, this is more than just a career resurgence—it’s a chance to be part of something bigger. The Yankees are a team with championship aspirations, and Hill’s contributions could be the difference between falling short and raising a World Series trophy.
The Yankees’ coaching staff has given Hill the tools to be successful, and in return, he’s given them a reliable, versatile arm in the bullpen. It’s a relationship that works for both sides, and the early returns suggest that this partnership will continue to bear fruit.
Tim Hill’s unique skill set, resilience, and ability to perform under pressure make him an ideal fit for the New York Yankees. His sidearm delivery, ability to induce ground balls, and deceptive slider provide the Yankees’ bullpen with a much-needed weapon. Meanwhile, the Yankees’ ability to unlock the potential of veteran pitchers has allowed Hill to rediscover his best form.
For the Yankees, Hill is the left-handed reliever they’ve been searching for. For Hill, the Yankees have given him a second chance at glory. In a city where the pressure is intense and the expectations are sky-high, Hill has proven that he belongs. Together, Hill and the Yankees are poised to make some noise in the postseason, and this partnership might just be the key to bringing another championship to the Bronx.
RICHARDSON
