Yankees Pitcher Tim Hill Wins Prestigious Tony Conigliaro Award for Overcoming Colon Cancer
In an emotional ceremony, the Red Sox honored Yankees reliever Tim Hill on Tuesday by awarding him the prestigious Tony Conigliaro Award. The honor recognizes a Major League player who has overcome adversity through courage, determination, and spirit, all of which are qualities that characterized the life of the late Boston Red Sox outfielder Tony Conigliaro.
Hill's journey to winning this award is nothing short of remarkable. In 2015, while undergoing spring training with the Kansas City Royals, he was diagnosed with Lynch syndrome, an inherited disorder that significantly increases cancer risk. Seven years later, Hill was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. His diagnosis came as a shock, with doctors initially expressing doubts about finding any abnormalities during his routine checkup.
The treatment was grueling, with eight months of chemotherapy and radiation, followed by surgery to remove half his colon. The process left him at an alarming weight loss of over 70 pounds below his normal weight, forcing him to adopt a regimen of six to seven meals a day in order to regain some of the lost weight.
Despite these challenges, Hill persevered and rebuilt himself slowly, eventually resuming baseball work in 2016. He made his major league debut with Kansas City two years later, before being traded to San Diego and then Chicago. A year ago, he was signed by New York after a stint with White Sox.
The results have been impressive. Since joining the Yankees, Hill has become an invaluable addition to their bullpen, boasting a 2.68 ERA in 105 games and leading the team with 70 appearances last season, all while holding a respectable 3.09 ERA across 67 innings.
This Tony Conigliaro Award not only recognizes Hill's courageous battle against cancer but also acknowledges his hard work and dedication to baseball despite facing an incredibly tough road. The award is an emotional tribute to Hill's spirit and resilience in the face of adversity, making him the first active player on the Yankees to receive this prestigious honor.
In an emotional ceremony, the Red Sox honored Yankees reliever Tim Hill on Tuesday by awarding him the prestigious Tony Conigliaro Award. The honor recognizes a Major League player who has overcome adversity through courage, determination, and spirit, all of which are qualities that characterized the life of the late Boston Red Sox outfielder Tony Conigliaro.
Hill's journey to winning this award is nothing short of remarkable. In 2015, while undergoing spring training with the Kansas City Royals, he was diagnosed with Lynch syndrome, an inherited disorder that significantly increases cancer risk. Seven years later, Hill was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. His diagnosis came as a shock, with doctors initially expressing doubts about finding any abnormalities during his routine checkup.
The treatment was grueling, with eight months of chemotherapy and radiation, followed by surgery to remove half his colon. The process left him at an alarming weight loss of over 70 pounds below his normal weight, forcing him to adopt a regimen of six to seven meals a day in order to regain some of the lost weight.
Despite these challenges, Hill persevered and rebuilt himself slowly, eventually resuming baseball work in 2016. He made his major league debut with Kansas City two years later, before being traded to San Diego and then Chicago. A year ago, he was signed by New York after a stint with White Sox.
The results have been impressive. Since joining the Yankees, Hill has become an invaluable addition to their bullpen, boasting a 2.68 ERA in 105 games and leading the team with 70 appearances last season, all while holding a respectable 3.09 ERA across 67 innings.
This Tony Conigliaro Award not only recognizes Hill's courageous battle against cancer but also acknowledges his hard work and dedication to baseball despite facing an incredibly tough road. The award is an emotional tribute to Hill's spirit and resilience in the face of adversity, making him the first active player on the Yankees to receive this prestigious honor.