The Dodgers on Wednesday optioned pitcher Kyle Hurt to Triple-A Oklahoma City, getting closer to finalizing the opening day roster.
After Tuesday night’s win over the Royals in Surprise, manager Dave Roberts was asked by Kirsten Watson on SportsNet LA if, this late into camp, the team has seen what they needed to see to finalize the opening day roster.
“We have,” Roberts said. “We’re going to have some good conversations, some hard conversations over the next couple of days.”
Hurt had Tommy John surgery
on July 30, 2024 and spent all of 2025 on the injured list. But unlike some of his returning-from-surgery cohorts in camp, the right-hander did pitch on rehab in Triple-A for the final month of the regular season, and was used during scrimmages during the postseason throughout October.
In seven appearances this spring, Hurt allowed three runs on six hits in 7 1/3 innings for a 3.68 ERA with two walks and 12 strikeouts, the latter representing a 40-percent strikeout rate.
After missing most of the last two seasons with injuries — he only pitched in .. games in 2024 — Hurt is back as a potential bullpen piece this season. Given that the Dodgers have used 39, 40, and 40 pitchers over the previous three seasons, if Hurt stays healthy this year he should get plenty of opportunities to contribute in Los Angeles.
Hurt getting options leaves only a few pitching roster decisions to be made to finalize the opening day roster. Blake Snell, Gavin Stone, Brusdar Graterol, Brock Stewart, and Bobby Miller all won’t be ready for opening day. That leaves only 15 available pitchers on the 40-man roster who haven’t already been optioned, plus two non-roster invitees in left-hander Antoine Kelly and right-hander Chris Campos.
In other words, only four more cuts to go to get down to 13 active pitchers for opening day.
