Former Cub and current Minnesota Twins pitcher Rich Hill talked about when he got the call to the bullpen to pitch at Wrigley Field on Off The Mound with Ryan Dempster. 

Hill was a member of the Cubs from 2005-2008. The southpaw made his MLB debut at Wrigley Field in 2005 against the Marlins, but it did not go the way he expected. 

“I remember the first time getting the call down the bullpen and I walked into Wrigley Field. The bullpen at that time was still on the field. The phone rang and it was like ‘Rich get up,’ and I was so nervous,” Hill said. “I threw about five balls to the backstop. They had to call time and you [Ryan] brought me a glass of water and I don’t think there was any water left because my hand was shaking so much.”

Hill has been with multiple teams in his Major League career. His current team is with the Minnesota Twins, where he signed a 1 year deal. Prior to his journey through the majors, Hill was drafted on three separate occasions and has faced adversity to be successful in baseball. Hill offered words of advice to those players who were not drafted in this year’s MLB Draft. 

“The biggest thing is every day show up for yourself. Know that you have to put in the time and the effort and that’s going to make the biggest difference in the world. I’ve gone through a lot of ups and downs,” Hill said. “People want to hear from you and they want to know and hear your voice and hear that passion that you have to go out and continue to play the game. I was fortunate enough to get another chance and make it work.”