Kyle Hurt became the latest Los Angeles Dodgers rookie to make his MLB debut this season, and the right-hander impressed over two innings of work against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.
Hurt retired Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto and Manny Machado in the eighth, then struck out the side in the ninth. However, he was optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City before Wednesday’s game as the corresponding move to Joe Kelly getting activated off the 15-day injured list.
That lent further credence to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicating that Hurt was not a candidate for a spot on the club’s postseason roster.
“This is accelerated for Kyle, but we as an organization feel that he’s ready for this,” Roberts said before Tuesday’s game. “I think right now, you look at the ‘pen and usage, just make sure we take care of guys. So to get him an opportunity to take down some innings, we all thought he was the right person for it.”
After the Dodgers optioned Hurt to the Minors, Roberts said it was not a difficult decision.
“I think it was a surprise to him and the organization as far as getting the call. He delivered, but I think with where we’re at on the roster, Joe was going to come back. We knew that,” Roberts noted.
“So I don’t know what’s going to happen with Kyle. He could come back. My encouragement to him was, ‘You filled the zone, you had swing and miss, you had a great experience. Continue to do that, and you never know what can happen.”
Hurt began the 2023 season with Double-A Tulsa, where he was part of a talented six-man starting rotation that included the likes of Emmet Sheehan, Nick Frasso and Landon Knack, among others.
However, Hurt has primarily pitched out of the bullpen since joining OKC at the start of August, going 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in six games (one start). He logged at least three innings in each of his five relief appearances.
Kyle Hurt: ‘exciting’ and ‘very special’ MLB debut
Hurt, who grew up in the San Diego area, had a large group of family and friends in attendance at Dodger Stadium to watch his MLB debut. “Very special,” he said of the night.
“I’ve been talking with my buddies for a long time about this, and my family, everybody. It’s just so cool for them to be a part of it.”
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