METS ACQUIRE LEFT-HANDED PITCHER RICH HILL

 

METS ACQUIRE LEFT-HANDED PITCHER RICH HILL

 

FLUSHING, N.Y., July 23, 2021 – The New York Mets today announced the team has acquired left-handed pitcher Rich Hill from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Tommy Hunter and minor league catcher Matt Dyer.

 

Hill, 41, has made 19 starts for the Rays this year and is 6-4 with a 3.87 ERA (41 earned runs/95.1 innings) with 36 walks and 91 strikeouts. He has held left-handed hitters to a .176 (13-74) batting average. Hill relies heavily on his curveball, using it 38.3% of the time. Hill is tied for the 10th-most strikeouts via that pitch this season with 34. 

 

He was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for May after going 3-1 with a 0.78 ERA (three earned runs/34.2 innings) with 12 walks and 36 strikeouts. It was the third time in his career he won the award, also doing so in July of 2017 with the Dodgers and in May of 2016 with the Athletics.

 

The Boston, MA native owns a lifetime 73-48 record with a 3.80 ERA (452 earned runs/1,071.1 innings) with 426 walks and 1,126 strikeouts across 17 major league seasons. He made his major league debut with the Cubs in 2005 after he was selected by the organization in the fourth round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Michigan.

 

Since 2016, he ranks among major league leaders in ERA (3.15, eighth), WHIP (1.10, 10th) and opponents average against (.210, third). He owns a 3.06 ERA (18 earned runs/53.0 innings) over 13 career postseason appearances, including 12 starts.

 

Hunter, 35, appeared in four games (one start) with the Mets this year. He tossed 8.0 scoreless innings allowing only four hits, three walks and struck out six. He was placed on the 10-Day IL on May 21 and transferred to the 60-Day IL on June 11 with lower back pain.

 

Dyer, 23, was selected by the Mets in the fourth round of the 2020 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Arizona. He has appeared in 36 games for the St. Lucie Mets this season and is hitting .194/.329/.452 with 20 runs, seven doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 20 RBI and six steals.

 

In corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Robert Stock has been transferred to the 60-Day IL.