Rich Hill, Red Sox Hopeful, Opens Up About Infant Son's Death

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Rich Hill opened up to reporters Thursday about the death of his infant son Brooks, as he steps back on the mound for spring training.

"We had a son on Dec. 26, and he was born with multiple issues that we confronted and had to deal with as we were moving through the last couple of months at Mass General," Hill told reporters Thursday after joining his teammates for spring training the day before. "Unfortunately he succumbed and he has passed. He taught us a lot of things, and unfortunately things didn't work out."

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Hill pitched for the Red Sox from 2010 to 2012 before moving to Cleveland last season to make 63 appearances with the Indians, according to ESPN. The Milton, Mass. native inked a minor league contract with the Red Sox this offseason to stay close to his family.

The Boston Globe reported that Hill, 34, was joined by his wife, Caitlin, and their 2-year-old son Brice in Florida on Wednesday. 

"My wife has been extremely strong," Hill said. "We're going to enjoy our time here and obviously make the most of the opportunity that’s here to play baseball. Excited to be here, to be playing baseball again and get back into the normalcy of my profession and to be around a great group of guys and to just take that next step. One-day-at-a-time approach, that’s where we’re at, to really enjoy every day."

Hill said that his family has had "tremendous support" from the Red Sox as well as friends, and he is ready to earn a spot on the team.

"Extended family, at Mass General, everybody there has been tremendous," Hill said, according to the Globe. "I feel that the opportunity is here. The opportunity is here for myself to make the most of it and go out there and do everything that I can on a daily basis to perform."

Hill will try to make the team, which already has Craig Breslow and Andrew Miller as left-handed relievers on its 40-man roster. Minor league starter Drake Britton and Jose Mijares are also in the mix for a roster spot, noted the Globe.

Hill comes into the season with a 4.74 ERA over nine major league seasons, CBS Sports reported. 

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