Pitching rehab assignments should always be taken with a grain of salt. After all, we’re talking about major leaguers pitching against kids who, for the most part, are all under 22 years of age and who have never seen major league pitching, except perhaps during spring training. But the simple truth is that a fastball is a fastball and a curveball is a curveball, regardless of who’s throwing it.

…unless that rehabbing major leaguer happens to be 38-year-old Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill.

As most Dodger fans know, the popular Boston, Massachusetts native has been dealing with a recurring blister issue on his left middle finger throughout most of his three seasons with the Dodgers, and for which he has spent considerable time on the disabled list; most recently landing there on May 20.

On Thursday, Hill made his first – and presumably only – rehab start with the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the highly competitive California League, against the Lake Elsinore Storm, the Advanced Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. And even though Hill would ultimately be tagged with the loss – the result of two unearned runs because of two costly errors by the Quakes infield – his outing was nothing short of outstanding.

All Hill did in his 4.2 innings of work was allow four hits (three soft-contact singles and a double), while walking none and striking out 10 of the 20 batters he faced. He did so on his pre-set limit of 75 pitches, of which 58 were strikes.

Outstanding indeed.

Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill warms up in preparation for his rehab start with the Quakes at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore on Thursday evening. Things went exceptionally well for the 14-year MLB veteran. (Photo credit – David Owen)

Eight of Hill’s 10 strikeouts were on his signature ‘Bugs Bunny-like’ curveball, of the likes that most of the Storm batters have ever seen before and may never see again … even if they make it to the major leagues. In fact, in the words – or word – of longtime Quakes play-by-play man Mike Lindskog, Hill’s curve was “filthy.” Lindskog went on to say that in his 25 seasons behind the Quakes microphone, he has never seen a filthier curveball.

How did Rich Hill feel after his near five innings of work on Thursday?

“That’s the best I’ve felt all year,” he told reporters. “I can feel the way the ball is jumping out of my hand. It’s coming out so much easier than it did in spring training and the first two months of the season.”

Hill added that longtime Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt had noticed on video that his alignment toward the plate seemed a bit off and recommended that he try transferring the weight on his back foot from his toe to his heel.

Bingo.

“That was something that we’ve been working on, just one small adjustment,” said Hill. “Getting back over my heel over the rubber and being able to have my weight down through my heel instead of on my toe, and it made a big difference.”

Ironically, and purely coincidentally, Hill squared off against Padres left-hander Joey Lucchesi, who was also making a rehab start as he works his way back from a right hip strain. Additionally, Padres catcher Austin Hedges was also on a rehab assignment (right elbow tendinitis) and ended up going 2-for-2 against Hill, including the aforementioned double.

Of course, the biggest concern was the recurring blister issue. Well worry no more … at least not for now.

(Click on image to view video – Video courtesy of @RCQuakes)

With no blister issues during (or after) his 4.2-inning rehab start on Thursday, the extremely polite left-hander, whose fastball topped out at 92-MPH, figures to rejoin the Dodgers and lines up to start against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, June 19 at Wrigley Field.

Welcome back, Rich.