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The Dodgers recalled Kyle Hurt from Triple-A Oklahoma City to serve as the permitted 27th player for the nightcap of Sunday’s split doubleheader against the New York Yankees, per Dodger Blue. The doubleheader came about after Saturday’s game was postponed due to inclement weather in the area.

Hurt, a right-handed pitcher, has been working his way through the Dodgers’ system since they selected him in the third round of the 2021 draft out of Cal State Fullerton. He’s a power arm who has dealt with some injury setbacks along the way — he missed significant time with an elbow issue — but when healthy, the stuff has always been intriguing. His fastball sits in the mid-90s with good life, and he pairs it with a slider that can be a legitimate swing-and-miss pitch. His development at Triple-A this season has been a quiet positive in a farm system that doesn’t get as much attention as it used to, given how many prospects have already graduated to the big league roster.

The 27th-man rule exists for exactly this kind of situation — a split doubleheader that taxes the pitching staff and bench beyond what a normal 26-man roster can comfortably handle. It gives the club an extra arm (or bat) without requiring a corresponding roster move. Hurt won’t necessarily stay with the club beyond the doubleheader unless the Dodgers decide to make a more permanent move.

With Yoshinobu Yamamoto having thrown a complete game in the first half of the doubleheader to save the bullpen — a gutsy and impressive effort — having Hurt available as an extra arm for the nightcap was a smart and necessary piece of roster management. The bullpen has been asked to carry a heavy load lately, and any extra coverage matters, especially in a condensed schedule.

This is the kind of depth move that doesn’t make headlines but matters in the grind of a 162-game season. The Dodgers are dealing with Will Smith being shut down from all baseball activities, multiple players on rehab assignments, and now the added strain of a doubleheader. Getting Hurt some big league exposure — even in a limited 27th-man capacity — keeps him sharp and gives the front office another data point on where he fits going forward. If he pitches well, it only strengthens his case for a more permanent role down the stretch or in September when rosters expand.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: July 19, 2026 8:21 PM UTC

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