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This isn't related to the 2010 Nationals, per se, but if you get a chance to head out to Camden Yards tonight, you can get a glimpse of former Nationals starter Shawn Hill, who is in his second start of his latest big league comeback attempt with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hill, as the more veteran readers among you know, was one of the Nationals' bright spots in the 2007 season, during which he posted a 3.42 ERA in 16 starts and looked like he was capable of being a fixture in the rotation. But Hill has been dogged by arm troubles his whole career, and after he pitched through forearm pain and made just 12 starts in 2008, the Nationals cut him during spring training in 2009.
He signed a minor league deal with the Padres last year and had his second Tommy John surgery after just three major league starts. Now, he's back with the team from his native country, trying to stay healthy yet again.
Hill is one of the classiest and most gracious Nationals players I've covered in my three years on the beat; he answered question after question about his forearm during the 2008 season, never showing any frustration he might have felt with the process, and was always willing to put down his crossword puzzle and talk baseball.
He's been through more arm struggles in six years than most pitchers go through in a career, and his arm just seems troubled for whatever reason. But maybe he'll make it stick this time. You certainly won't find many people who will do more to remain in the game.
