The Los Angeles Dodgers may have found their next closer—and it's not a big-name free agent signing. Meet Kyle Hurt, a top pitching prospect who's turning heads with a dominant start to his 2026 season.
After Ben Casparius went down with shoulder inflammation, the Dodgers called up Hurt, and he's been nothing short of electric. In nine innings out of the bullpen, he boasts a microscopic 1.00 ERA, a 0.92 FIP, and a 1.36 xERA. Those numbers aren't just good—they're elite, and they've already earned him a nod from MLB.com as the Dodgers' prospect with the most closer potential.
Hurt, ranked No. 23 on MLB.com's Dodgers prospect list, has battled his share of adversity. Tommy John surgery in July 2024 sidelined him for the entire 2025 season. But he entered spring training healthy and ready, and when the bullpen needed reinforcements, he was the first call. Now, he's making that decision look like a stroke of genius.
What makes Hurt so dangerous? It starts with his fastball, which sits in the mid-90s and touches 99 mph with carry. MLB Pipeline gives it a 70 grade, while FanGraphs hands it a 60. His changeup is nearly as lethal, earning 60 grades from both sites. Though he also throws a cutter/slider and curveball, he's simplified his mix as a reliever, leaning on his two best weapons to shut down hitters.
At just 27 years old, Hurt still has time to grow into a premier late-inning arm. The Dodgers acquired him from the Marlins in 2021 alongside Alex Vesia for Dylan Floro—a trade that's looking smarter by the day. While he could stretch out as an innings-eater if needed, his future seems brightest in the bullpen, where his stuff plays up in shorter bursts.
For Dodgers fans dreaming of a lockdown closer, Kyle Hurt might just be the answer they've been waiting for.