At the start of the 2023 Minor League season, Los Angeles Dodgers prospects Emmet Sheehan, Nick Frasso, Landon Knack, River Ryan, Nick Nastrini and Kyle Hurt made up a six-man rotation for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers.
Each of the right-handers impressed individually, and collectively the group was widely regarded as the top starting rotation in the Minors. Sheehan has since gone on to make his MLB debut and take on a role with the Dodgers, while Nastrini was included in a trade with the Chicago White Sox.
Meanwhile, Frasso, Knack and Hurt earned promotions to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Hurt is now set to join the Dodgers:
The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up Kyle Hurt, a RHP prospect with the highest strikeout rate in the minors this year, sources tell ESPN. Monster fastball, tons of swing-and-miss on secondaries and 145 Ks in 88.1 innings between AA and AAA. He'll work out of the bullpen.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 12, 2023
Hurt went 2-3 with a 4.15 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 110 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched across 19 games (15 starts) for the Drillers this season.
He primarily has been utilized out of the bullpen upon joining Oklahoma City, going 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in six games (one start). Hurt has logged at least three innings in each of his five relief appearances for OKC.
Included in that was twice pitching five innings, which Hurt did when he last pitched on September 7.
Hurt was selected by the Miami Marlins in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft. He was traded to the Dodgers, along with Alex Vesia, in a deal that sent Dylan Floro to the Marlins in February 2021.
The Dodgers need to make room on their 40-man roster in order to select Hurt’s contract.
That conceivably could be accomplished by transferring Yency Almonte, Gus Varland or Wander Suero to the 60-day injured list. Almonte has been out since August 12 because of a right MCL sprain but was expected to throw a bullpen session Tuesday.
Varland and Suero landed on the 15-day IL on Sunday and Monday, respectively.
Kyle Hurt joining Dodgers prospects to debut in 2023
If and when Hurt pitches for the Dodgers, he would become the organization’s eighth Minor Leaguer to make his MLB debut during the 2023 season.
The group consists of Michael Busch (April 25), Gavin Stone (May 3), Bobby Miller (May 23), Jonny DeLuca (June 7), Nick Robertson (June 7), Emmet Sheehan (June 16) and Bryan Hudson (June 17).
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
