Dodgers Tap Reliever Kyle Hurt as Pitching Injuries Mount

The 27-year-old right-hander gets the call as LA navigates another wave of pitching woes.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:08am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the delivery of a Dodgers pitcher, with sharp geometric planes in Dodger blue, white, and red colors representing the team's ongoing pitching challenges.The Dodgers' latest pitching injury crisis is forcing the team to turn to unproven arms like Kyle Hurt to maintain their dominance in the NL West.Oklahoma City Today

The Los Angeles Dodgers have turned to right-handed reliever Kyle Hurt to bolster their pitching staff as injuries continue to plague their rotation. Hurt, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024, has impressed in the minors with his high strikeout rate but has struggled with command. The Dodgers are hoping he can harness his stuff and provide valuable multi-inning relief as they navigate the latest setbacks to their pitching depth.

Why it matters

The Dodgers have built a reputation for weathering pitching injuries, but the current carousel of injuries to key arms like Blake Snell, Ben Casparius, and others is testing that depth. Hurt's performance could be crucial in helping the Dodgers maintain their dominance in the NL West during this stretch.

The details

After injuries to Ben Casparius, Blake Snell, Gavin Stone, and others, the Dodgers are turning to 27-year-old right-hander Kyle Hurt to provide relief. Hurt, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024, has impressed with a 26.5% strikeout rate at Triple-A but has struggled with command, walking 14.7% of batters. The Dodgers are hoping he can harness his stuff as he did in spring training, when he struck out 40% of batters with a 6.7% walk rate.

  • Hurt underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2024.
  • Hurt made his return to professional baseball late last season.
  • Hurt impressed in spring training this year, striking out 40% of batters.

The players

Kyle Hurt

A 27-year-old right-handed pitcher in the Dodgers' organization who is being called up to provide relief as the team navigates a wave of pitching injuries.

Ben Casparius

A Dodgers reliever who is being placed on the injured list with a shoulder injury, opening the door for Hurt's promotion.

Blake Snell

A Dodgers starting pitcher who has been sidelined with shoulder fatigue, part of the ongoing pitching woes for the team.

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What’s next

The Dodgers will be closely monitoring Hurt's performance as he makes his return to the major league roster, with the hope that he can provide reliable multi-inning relief while the team navigates its latest wave of pitching injuries.

The takeaway

The Dodgers' ability to develop and deploy young pitching talent has been a key to their sustained success, and Hurt's performance could be crucial as the team weathers its latest round of injuries to the pitching staff.