During his pregame media scrum on Sunday morning, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that veteran left-hander Rich Hill will be activated from the disabled for his recurring blister issue and would make the start on Tuesday, June 19 against the Chicago Cubs at historic Wrigley Field.

“Rich is lined up for Tuesday,” Roberts said. “Looks good, felt good coming out of his rehab, had a pen today I saw. Looks really good.”

But in spite of this good news – great, actually – it is impossible not to say (or at least think) to yourself ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’ve heard it before.’

So why is it that Roberts – and everyone else – is so confident that this time will be different than in the past, during which every conceivable (and inconceivable) type of treatment was used … up to and including several holistic and home remedies such as soaking his blistered finger in pickle juice and (brace yourselves) even urinating on it?

The answer is science and technology which, quite frankly, makes you ask (or think) ‘Why didn’t they try this before?’

“This time we used a laser on it,” Hill told ThinkBlue LA. “It did the trick, it’s completely healed … feels great.”

Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill enjoyed Father’s Day at Dodger Stadium on Sunday by playing catch with his son Brice, also a lefty, as his wife (umpire) Caitlin looked on. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Although Hill’s laser treatment certainly isn’t breaking news and has been reported in the media over the past several weeks, exactly what that treatment entailed had not … so I asked him. I must admit that his answers were both surprising and educational – especially the first one: How does it work?

“The laser destroys the damaged skin and new, healthy skin grows back,” he answered. “From what I can tell, the treatment worked. My finger is completely healed.”

But it was Hill’s answer to the next question – two, actually – that were the most surprising: How often do (did) you receive the laser treatment, and where?

“Whenever you want. We have a laser right here back in the training room,” he answered.

Wait, what? You don’t need to go to a laser treatment center or a medical facility for this?

“No. We do it right here whenever we want to. It’s very convenient,” he replied.

Who knew?

If Hill’s rehab start with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes this past Thursday is any indication, the laser treatment has indeed worked. In that outing, the 38-year-old Boston native and 14-year MLB veteran allowed two unearned runs on four hits, while walking none and striking out 10 Lake Elsinore Storm batters in his 4.0 innings of work. Those 10 strikeouts – eight of which came on his signature (and devastating) Bugs Bunny-like curveball – tied a season high for a Quakes pitcher, matching those of Quakes right-hander Dean Kremer on May 29. The difference is that Kremer’s 10 strikeouts came over 6.0 innings pitched on 88 pitches (56 strikes), whereas Hill’s came in 4.0 innings pitched on a preset limit of 75 pitches (58 strikes).

Hill was absolutely lights out in his rehab start with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes last Thursday.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Oh sure, you can argue that Hill is a seasoned major league veteran pitching against kids nearly half his age, but the simple truth is that a strike is a strike regardless of who the batter is or how much (or little) experience they have.

The bottom line is that if Hill’s recurring blister issues are finally resolved once and for all, his return to the Dodgers injury-riddled starting rotation is an absolute godsend and couldn’t come at a better time, with the team currently sitting in second place in the National League West a mere game and a half behind the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

Welcome back, Rich. Heaven knows we need you now more than ever.

Play Ball!