Another unusual rookie has appeared in the Los Angeles Dodgers, where rookie pitchers such as Bobby Miller, Emmett Sheehan, and Ryan Pepiot are in the starting rotation. This time, a rookie named Kyle Hurt (26) made a successful debut in the bullpen.
Hurt received a big league call-up ahead of the San Diego Padres game on the 13th (Korean time). Hurt, who arrived at Dodger Stadium about 30 minutes before the game started at 7:10 p.m., was on the mound of his dream as the third pitcher in the 8th inning with the Dodgers ahead 9-2.
Although they were hit by San Diego’s central batting lineup from the start, they did not give in. He hit Fernando Tatis Jr. on a grounder to second base, Juan Sotor on a grounder to shortstop, and Manny Machado on a grounder to third base, hitting a three-out strike on nine balls. He used his main weapon, a change-up, to induce ground balls from three batters in a row.메이저놀이터
Then, in the 9th inning, he showed off his strikeout ability. He struck out Garrett Cooper with a changeup, Trent Grisham with a 95.9 mile (154.3km) four-seam fastball, and Matthew Batton with a changeup. He completed the Dodgers’ 11-2 victory with two perfect innings and three strikeouts.
Hurt’s total number of pitches on this day was 24, including 19 strikes and 5 balls. With an aggressive pitch, he threw 12 four-seam fastballs and changeups with a maximum speed of 97.9 mph (157.6 km) and an average speed of 95.6 mph (153.9 km). He pulled out 4 missed swings with a change-up and 2 swings with a four-seam fastball.
According to ‘Dodger Insider’, after the game, Hurt said, “All the pitchers I talked to in the bullpen during the game said, ‘Don’t change anything, just be yourself.’ “That’s what I did today,” he said. “It was a lot of fun. “I hope we can do this again,” he expressed his joy.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also said, “The way he threw was very special. “He didn’t run away,” he said, praising Hurt’s aggressive pitching. Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman also said, “If you look at it from the side, you can see how hot Hurt’s fastball is. It was a different kind of heat. “And then he even throws a changeup,” he said in surprise.
Hurt, who was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 5th round and 134th overall in the 2020 draft, is a 190 cm, 108 kg right-hander who was traded in February 2021 along with left-hander Alex Bethea as compensation for right-hander Dylan Floro. He took a training course with the Dodgers, but suffered from problems with his ball control and his big league call-up was delayed.
However, he showed promise this year with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, with 4 wins, 4 losses, and an average ERA of 3.87 in 25 games (16 starts, 88⅓ innings). He had some control over the pitch, striking out a whopping 145 batters in 88⅓ innings, showing off his power at 14.8 per 9 innings. With a strong debut and a late-season major league call-up, there is a possibility of joining the postseason roster.
The Dodgers have several relievers on the injured list, including Daniel Hudson, who is out for the season, as well as Joe Kelly, Yancy Almonte, and Gus Barand. In a situation where a strong bullpen is lacking, Hurt has emerged as the Dodgers’ new hidden card.