When news broke late Tuesday morning that the Dodgers had called up right-hander Kyle Hurt from Triple-A Oklahoma City, it’s probably safe to say that a lot of Dodgers fans said “Who?”

But it’s probably safe to say that a lot of Dodgers fans – if not all of them – now know exactly who Kyle Hurt.

All the 25-year-old Rancho Santa Fe, CA native and fifth-round draft pick in 2020 by the Miami Marlins out of USC (who was traded to the Dodgers in February 2021 along with left-hander Alex Vesia in exchange for right-hander Dylan Floro) did in his major league debut against the division rival San Diego Padres only hours after his call-up to The Show in relief of 36-year-old Dodgers starting right-hander Lance Lynn was retire all six Padres batters he faced, including striking out the side in the top of the ninth inning of the Dodgers lopsided 11-2 win over the Friars at Dodger Stadium.

“It hasn’t settled in yet, but that was a lot of fun,” Hurt told AM 570’s David Vassegh after his (very) strong major league debut.

“Man, that was exciting,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said postgame of Hurt’s MLB debut. “He had a very good support of Kyle Hurt fans. First time I talked to him today or saw him was shaking hands at the end of the game.

“So, he got in late this afternoon and prepared, and obviously he’s on a lot of adrenaline,” added Roberts. “Went to (U)SC from San Diego, so there’s a lot of people local that came to support him, and that was good to hear.”

The 6′-3″/240-pound hard-throwing righty made a total of 24 pitches, of which 19 were strikes. And though his impressive four-seam fastball topped out at 95.8 MPH, it was his 87-MPH change-up that was absolutely filthy and absolutely unhittable.

Although Roberts was non-committal as to what Hurt’s specific role will be down the stretch (he was a starter for most of his three seasons down of the farm), or whether or not he will be on his postseason roster, judging by the current state of the Dodgers starting rotation and current state of the Dodgers bullpen, Hurt won’t be going anywhere soon, and will be a huge asset down the stretch in either role.

…and in the postseason.

Play Ball!

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