5:48pm: Los Angeles has officially announced Hurt’s promotion. Victor Gonzalez was optioned in a corresponding move. To create space on the 40-man roster, L.A. transferred Varland to the 60-day injured list. His season is over because of a knee issue.
12:43pm: The Dodgers are planning to select the contract of right-hander Kyle Hurt, reports ESPN’s Jeff Passan. He’s started 16 games in the minors this year (plus another nine relief outings) but will work primarily out of the bullpen in Los Angeles.
Hurt, 25, was a fifth-round pick by the Marlins in 2020 who went to Los Angeles alongside lefty Alex Vesia in a trade that sent Dylan Floro from L.A. to Miami. The 6’3″, 240-pound righty posted fairly nondescript numbers in his first two professional seasons but has put himself on the prospect map in 2023 with 88 1/3 innings of 3.87 ERA ball and, more interestingly, a ridiculous 39% strikeout rate between Double-A and Triple-A. As is often the case, that ability to miss bats at an elite level is accompanied by some shaky command (11% walk rate). Still, Hurt’s strikeout rate is the highest among the 613 minor league pitchers with at least 70 innings so far in 2023.
To his credit, Hurt has tamped down that walk rate a bit since moving up the minor league ladder. After walking 11.8% of his opponents in Double-A this year, he’s issued walks at a much tidier 8.6% clip in 23 1/3 Triple-A frames. He’s also seen his ground-ball rate jump from 44.2% in Double-A to 52.1% in Triple-A.
As a college arm (USC) who was drafted in 2020, Hurt was a lock to be added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster this winter, as opting not to do so would’ve left him eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. The Dodgers were never going to leave an arm capable of missing bats at this level unprotected, so one way or another, his contract would’ve been selected sooner than later. They’ll opt to take a look at Hurt down the stretch and evaluate him for a possible role in the postseason bullpen. While Hurt wasn’t on the 40-man roster at the time the postseason eligibility deadline passed back on Sept. 1, he can be added to the roster as a replacement for any number of injured Dodgers, by virtue of the fact that he was at least in the organization prior to Sept. 1.
The Dodgers have a staggering ten relievers currently on the 15-day or 60-day injured list. Each of Yency Almonte, Tyler Cyr, J.P. Feyereisen, Daniel Hudson, Joe Kelly, Jimmy Nelson, Alex Reyes, Wander Suero, Blake Treinen and Gus Varland is currently shelved with an injury. They’ve patched things together with a characteristic hodgepodge of little-known names and veteran reclamation projects, getting key innings from waiver-wire closer Evan Phillips, minor league signee Ryan Brasier and resurgent veteran Shelby Miller — among others. Hurt will join that group and vie for a spot in the playoff bullpen with a big showing in the season’s final three weeks.
You know the Dodgers are hurting for pitching when they’re calling up Hurt.
That walk rate….wowzers
Hurt was completely dominant 2 perfect innings, including striking out the side to end the game.
He’s like Mr sir walking around the dugout preaching “I’ll put a hurting on ya!”
They call up old sweet feet Livingston too?
The Big Hurt
At 6’3″ and 240 lbs…..the Pretty Big Hurt.
It hurts to be in love…
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
Ouch
Trent Reznor sold the rights to have Johhny Cash own his masterpiece that he didn’t perfect to the ambiguous ear? *insert Vincent Van Gogh meme here*
John Mozeliak looks like you and him got something in common? Great at trading away your potential…
Trent Reznor or Johnny Cash, it’s a really good song.
Reminds me of the 2022 Padres, they had about 20 different starting pitchers and signed any pitcher they could locate
Except for these Dodgers aren’t an abject disaster & complete embarrassment
Is reading that hard? The comment said “the 2022 Padres”. You know, the team that knocked the doyers out of the playoffs….
The Padres proudly display their 2022 NLDS Championship Trophy at the ballpark…
They actually hung a flag for it. Seriously.
For a while they will need to keep replaying that video of the 2022 NLDS highlights to soothe themselves. And maybe some of their players won’t be popping off until they actually win something.
The video of Cronenworth essentially knocking the doyers out of the playoffs last year, and then the all-to-familiar zoom-in on Doc’s face as he knows he’s blown another opportunity by mismanaging his pitching staff is all I need until the Padres get their chance at a ring! LoL
If Roberts mismanages his pitching staff it’s a wonder Andy Friedman hasn’t fired him. Oh, wait.
The current generation of fans doesn’t seem to understand what a manager does on a baseball team in the era of analytics. I hear a lot of love for the analytics game, until it’s actually played. When the numbers game doesn’t work out, it’s always totally the manager’s fault. Speaking of LOLs, funny how that doesn’t work.
Okay, doyers fans win. It’s completely on the players. Just find it crazy that they’ve been in the playoffs every year of his time in LA, and will be again this season, and they “only” have one *championship (in a shortened season).
I have quite a few friends that are die-hard doyer fans and they ALL believe that Doc mismanages the pitching during the playoffs…
I’d say you need to find some friends with a clue.
Dodgers please play King of Pain as his entrance/warm up song.
Did anyone get hurt to make this happen?
Yeah, the Dodgers.
Varland and Suero
A Dodgers “Hurt” jersey might become a best seller
I thought they would be calling Landon Knack or Nick Frasso, both of them are also drafted in 2020.
Knack is injured.
Vesia and Ferguson live to see another day
Ferguson isn’t going anywhere
He’s been Roberts’ go to high leverage reliever
Why would Caleb Ferguson be worried about his job?
He wouldn’t be. That’s the point.
Hulk may smash, but Kyle hurt
promising performance
Made his major league debut with 2 clean mop up innings vs Padres, including striking out the side in the 9th. So far, so good.
Then, after showering he got dressed at the Hurt locker.
Wow, this kid looks good!