Entering the 2021 season, Tim Hill hadn’t pitched more than 45.2 innings in a season. He’d surpass that total by 14 innings this year when all things were said and done. If you ask the front office, they probably would tell you that they didn’t want Hill pitching that many innings considering he is better utilized in situations where there’s a left-handed batter up to bat. However, they had to use Hill more often in 2021 partly because of Drew Pomeranz’s injury-riddled campaign.
Pomeranz hit the IL three different times and when he was on the IL, Hill was Jayce Tingler’s best and sometimes only (if Ryan Weathers and Matt Strahm weren’t options) left-handed reliever available.