Dodgers Manager Says Hard-Throwing Right-Hander Has 'Good Possibility' to Make Team For Games vs Padres
You can never have enough pitching.
This is a tried and true reality applicable to every single professional baseball team, regardless of level.
As we saw last year with the Dodgers, injuries depleted their stable of pitchers -- and thus led to the team being upset in the NLDS by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
As per the report from Juan Toribio below, there's a real chance reliever Kyle Hurt will be on the Opening Day roster next Wednesday when the Dodgers open versus the San Diego Padres overseas in Seoul.
The bullpen is considered to be a strength of this team. However, that doesn't mean the front office isn't on the lookout for reinforcements.
As we've seen thus far, an in-house option could end up being a real game-changer for the Dodgers. Hurt only made three appearances last year. Yet, he more than made an impression with a power fastball and a wicked change.
Working out of the bullpen this spring, the former USC star pitcher has thrown 6.0 innings. He's allowed zero runs, and two hits while striking out nine batters. Hurt's most recent outing game in Seoul versus a local Korean team. Suffice it to say, that he was dominant.
Brusdar Graterol and Emmet Sheehan are both experiencing minor injuries. As such, neither is going to pitch on this trip. It does open the door for Hurt to further cement himself as a real option for Manager Dave Roberts.
Once Sheehan and Graterol are back, there's a chance Hurt will bounce back down to AAA. However, if he continues to throw the baseball with this sort of effectiveness, it would be difficult to keep Hurt off the roster.
As it currently stands, Hurt will be battling with the likes of Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Michael Grove, Daniel Hudson, JP Feyereisen, Ryan Yarbrough, Ryan Brasier, Gus Varland and Joe Kelly for a spot in the pen.
