Shoulder inflammation and then Tommy John surgery limited Hurt to only three games in the majors in 2024
Kyle Hurt made the Dodgers opening day roster and built on the promise he showed in his brief two-inning debut the prior September. But unfortunately his 2024 season was curtailed by a pair of injuries.
Hurt, who came to the Dodgers with Alex Vesia in February 2021 when Dylan Floro was traded to the Marlins, appeared in just three games for the Dodgers this season, all within the first 20 games of the season. He got at least six outs in all of them, just like his major league debut to end 2023.
The first injured-list stint came on April 20, with shoulder inflammation that the team tried to be cautious with, transferring him to the 60-day injured list a week later.
“I felt discomfort in my shoulder, and tried to throw through it for a little bit, but my velo and stuff were trending downward,” Hurt said in May. “I thought I could grind through it, but thought it was best not to. It is frustrating, but it’s in my best interest to go on the IL, and take our time.”
By early June, Hurt was rehabbing in Triple-A and pitching well. He was activated off the 60-day injured list on June 21 but simultaneously optioned, keeping him with Oklahoma City, but earning a minor league salary instead.
In five appearances in Triple-A after getting optioned, Hurt struck out six in 5⅔ innings. On the season with Oklahoma City, Hurt had a 3.07 ERA in 14⅔ innings in 13 games, with 22 strikeouts (33.8-percent strikeout rate) and 12 walks.
On July 4 against Las Vegas, Hurt struck out his first two batters but then walked off the mound while shaking his arm.
“It was really disappointing, certainly, because we had plans for him to come back with us soon,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on July 7.
At the time, the extent of Hurt’s injury was not yet revealed, but he had Tommy John surgery on July 30, ending his 2024 season and taking a big chunk out of 2025 as well.
2024 particulars
Age: 26
Stats: 3 games, 6⅔ IP, 1.35 ERA, BB, 3 K
Salary: $315,363 (his $742,500 salary pro-rated for his 79 days in the majors, including the IL)
Game of the year
One of the rare times when a pitcher’s game of the season was also one in which he was hung with the loss, but Hurt was excellent against the Cardinals on March 30. He struck out three batters in two perfect innings to get through the ninth, then returned to the mound after the Dodgers tied the game in the bottom of the ninth.
Hurt got two groundouts to open the 10th, but because of the Manfred Man (the free runner on second base in extra innings) each grounder allowed the runner to advance, and score. Hurt allowed what ended up as the game-winning (unearned) run with a perfect outing to that point, retiring his first eight batters. He allowed two more two-out singles after the run, but neither scored.
Roster status
Hurt has 99 days of service time and two option years remaining. Given that his Tommy John surgery was on July 30, it’s unlikely he’ll be ready to return to the majors before maybe September 2025 at the earliest.