Derek Hill becomes improbable hero in second-straight comeback thriller: ‘It’s really cool’
Jun 24, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Derek Hill (49) reacts after hitting a two run home run against the Washington Nationals during the ninth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
On Tuesday night, the Phillies’ comeback and historic eight-run ninth inning against the Washington Nationals was fueled by the familiar names: Trea Turner, Brandon Marsh, Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, and Edmundo Sosa.
Wednesday’s rejoinder was not as momentous, but equally heroic. Rather than a perennial All-Star, the hero was a seven-year journeyman who plays with a toothpick in his mouth.
Derek Hill, with two strikes and two outs, crushed a low four-seamer from Richard Lovelady into the front row of the high wall in right field at Nationals Park to give the Phillies a 5-4 lead. Hill hopped around the bases, pumping his fist. It was his first home run as a Phillie and RBIs No. 2 and 3 with the club — a swing that could prove pivotal in the Phillies’ 2026 season.
“Really nice to see that,” manager Don Mattingly said postgame on Wednesday. “[Hill’s] been working…. He’s been a good guy in our clubhouse. He’s a guy that’s prepared, he’s low maintenance, ready to go at all times.”
Hill entered the game as a pinch hitter for Justin Crawford. The Nationals brought in the left-handed Lovelady to face the lefty Crawford. Hill was the counter from the Phils, and he popped his fourth career pinch-hit home run. It is not an easy thing to do.
“The hardest thing to do in the game, I think, is pinch-hitting,” Kyle Schwarber said. “Having to go up there and take an at-bat just from playing in the National League [before the universal designated hitter], knowing how hard that was and having an appreciation for guys who are really good at it, it takes talent.”
Schwarber, who was out of the lineup for the second straight night with back tightness, felt adequate by the ninth to come in and pinch hit just one batter ahead of where Hill eventually slotted. Schwarber, with two outs, labored his way on with a ten-pitch walk.
“Going into that at-bat… they take a mound visit, and you’re just trying to stay within yourself and stay in the zone, and just try to find a way on base,” Schwarber said. “Down 1-2, we work it to 3-2… [Orlando Ribalta] makes a good pitch down and away, fastball, was able to foul it off. Then he hung a slider, just missed that one, pulled it foul. Threw another pretty good slider, and got to first base on a changeup.”
It was comparable to how the eight-run outburst started just the night prior, where Turner, with two outs, roped a single, parading 13 straight Phillies to reach base. Wednesday night was not quite as emphatic, but still compelling.
“Pretty cool two-game sequence we’ve had,” Schwarber said.
Hill has been a part of seven different major league teams in his career. The 30-year-old enters a distinctive platoon situation in Philadelphia, serving in for the injured Adolis Garcia via trade with the Chicago White Sox. The Phillies are expected to pursue a right-handed hitting outfielder by Aug. 3’s trade deadline.
“To see how [Hill] went in there and he had that at-bat,” Schwarber said. “See how he’s working. He’s been making some really good adjustments since he’s gotten to us. And seeing the work that he’s been able to put in, and he works extremely hard, and he fits right in with our group, and to see him go out there and have that big swing put us ahead — it’s really cool.”
In ten games and 21 at-bats, Hill has seven hits, two of them extra bases, and three RBI. The sample size is minuscule, but perhaps Hill is making the most of this opportunity.
“We look for a pinch hitter, he’s ready with a bat in his hand, or he knows when we defend with him, and things like that,” Mattingly said of Hill. “We’ve kind of given him enough information that he understands kind of our plan for him and how we use him. That’s important.”
With these two victories, the Phils have themselves back in the thick of an NL East race. The Atlanta Braves were swept in San Diego this week, marking their first time being swept this season. Atlanta has lost ten of their last 13 games, and all of a sudden, their NL East lead is just 4.5 games.
“That’s been our identity here,” Schwarber said on the back-to-back come-from-behind victories from the Phillies. “To see that and that kind of game [on Tuesday] in that kind of fashion was really cool. And then we have another game [Wednesday] just like that. Credit to our guys in this room.”
Benjamin Goldstein
Benjamin Goldstein is a Sports Media major at Temple University and an aspiring sportscaster and journalist. Since 2017, he has covered Philadelphia sports as the founder, editor, writer, and podcast host of Philly Sports Reports. In addition, Benjamin interned with the WBCB Sports Network on 1490 AM and served as the lead broadcaster for Pennsbury Athletics for four years. Through his coverage and media work, he has had the opportunity to meet Phillies owner John Middleton in his suite and was recognized as KYW Newsradio’s Philadelphia Sports Fan of the Week.
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