Designated For Assignment— a phrase no player wants to hear. Yet it was the reality of one of the best relievers of the New York Yankees squad a few years ago. The veteran, whose ERA is still spotless three games into the 2026 season, did not make it past the halfway point of 2024 before he was designated for assignment by the Chicago White Sox. Following his comeback at the age of 35, he looked back on the uncertain days of his career.

The Yankees re-signed a 35-year-old Tim Hill in February 2025 on a one-year, $2.85 million contract with a $3 million club option for 2026. Hill’s move to New York came at a low point in his career. Now settled as one of their key relief arms, Hill opened up to NJ.com about one of the toughest times in his career.

“That was a week where I questioned some things. There’s a lot of uncertainty as far as what’s next, so that was pretty stressful,” recalled Hill in conversation with NJ.com.

Following his debut stint with the Kansas City Royals, Hill was with the San Diego Padres from 2020 to 2023. As a sidearm sinkerball left reliever, his initial seasons with the Padres were good. But in his last season, Hill went 1-4, posting a 5.48 ERA across 44.1 innings pitched. He had allowed 59 hits, 36 runs, and 14 walks.

His next stint with the Chicago White Sox in 2024 did not last half a season. By June, his ERA read 5.87 across 23 innings pitched in 27 outings. Following this, the White Sox designated him for assignment.

Then came the week of uncertainty, as Hill sat waiting to clear the waivers for six days. While Hill did not want a minor league trip at 34, his agent reassured him about securing a major league contract as soon as possible.

The Yankees contract came in June 2024, after he cleared waivers. He went to New York, stressing about the immediate pressure of performing that he was under.

“But at that point, you’ve got to assume that you’re the lowest man on the totem pole. So, any roster move, it can be you. Just being in that role was kind of stressful in the beginning,” shared Hill.

Challenges are not new to Tim Hill, who battles Lynch syndrome. A survivor of Stage 3 colon cancer, he underwent surgery to remove half of his colon and eight months of chemotherapy at only 25 years old in 2015. A minor leaguer at the time, Hill made his return to professional baseball in 2016.

Hence, his DFA situation might have been stressful, but it was nothing he couldn’t beat.

Hill had a dream run with the Yankees in 2024 as the team advanced to the World Series. He logged one of his best performances, posting a 2.05 ERA in 35 games.

Following his incredible outings, the Yankees recognized his worth and re-signed him for the 2025 season.

As the veteran pitcher becomes better every season, Aaron Boone dubbed him a “dog.”

The Yankees skipper called Hill a “dog”

The first thing the Yankees did for Tim Hill this offseason was give him that well-deserved $3 million option. Last season, Hill went 4-4, logging 67 innings in 70 outings, recording a 3.09 ERA and 37 strikeouts.

Speaking about Hill, Boone said, per NJ.com, “I know our guys always liked him, even going back to when he was in San Diego. We thought there was a little more meat on the bone, too.”

And indeed, he had more to deliver. At 36, though his sinker velocity dropped from 91.5 mph in 2019 to 89.5 mph in 2025, Hill has become a smarter pitcher. He is tough on left-handers but gets right-handed batters out as well. Hill has held off lefties to a .181 average, with 27 strikeouts last season. The right-handers have a .282 average against him.

One of the best in the Yankees’ bullpen, Hill put on a show against the Mariners on Tuesday. During the Yankees’ 5-0 victory, Hill retired the Mariners with a 1-2-3 ninth on seven pitches.

Following his performance, the Yankees’ skipper called him a “dog” alongside “fearless.”

“He’s a gamer. He’s a dog. He is fearless. He’s really competitive and just an awesome teammate, someone that’s been a lot of fun to be around,” Boone remarked, according to NJ.com.

Tim Hill’s stint with the Yankees is going “definitely better” than he thought, and the Yankees are loving him too.