If the Dodgers are going to complete their mission of winning a World Series this season, they are going to need to do so with the help of multiple young pitchers. With the way that their pitching staff looks right now, LA will be relying on inexperienced arms in the postseason.
It’s not exactly what any team would want to do, but LA has confidence in their players. The young pitchers have shown that they belong in the big leagues all season, and they have helped keep LA afloat this year.
One pitcher that could make a big impact for the Dodgers is rookie Kyle Hurt. Hurt was called up to make his major league debut earlier this week, and he didn’t disappoint.
Against the San Diego Padres, Hurt pitched two innings of shutout work in relief. He faced the heart of the Padres order with ease in the 8th and then proceeded to strike out the side in the 9th inning. It was an electric debut from Hurt and one that could see him make the LA postseason roster potentially.
One MLB insider believes that Hurt could play a major role for LA in the playoffs. Jon Morosi of MLB Network is very high on the Dodgers rookie, and he spoke on Hurt.
“I think Kyle Hurt,” Morosi said, “is going to be, very quickly, a crucial pitcher for the Dodgers in the postseason.”
Hurt impressed LA with his strong strikeout rate in the minor leagues. He had 145 strikeouts over 88.1 innings of work. The flamethrower led the minors in that statistic, and it helped him earn a spot on the Dodgers.
“He is going to be a tremendous asset for this team,” Morosi said. “I do think we could see Kyle Hurt be a multi-inning bridge guy.”
It remains to be seen if Hurt does make the postseason roster, as he was sent down to Triple-A after his debut game. But the team could bring him back up to see what he can do.
This is his chance to become a mainstay in the LA bullpen, and possibly help them win a championship along the way.
More must-reads: