Kyle Hurt & Eduardo Salazar Called Up, Ricky Vanasco & Nick Ramirez Optioned

The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Kyle Hurt, selected the contract of Eduardo Salazar from Triple-A Oklahoma City, and optioned Ricky Vanasco and Nick Ramirez prior to their game against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.

It was part of a series of roster moves that also included calling up Andy Pages and designating Taylor Trammell for assignment. Trammell being designated made room for Salazar on the 40-man roster.

Vanasco had joined the active roster one day prior as the corresponding move to J.P. Feyereisen getting sent down to Oklahoma City. The right-hander wound up making his MLB debut on Jackie Robinson Day, throwing two perfect innings in relief.

Ramirez pitched three scoreless innings with the club since being recalled, including two on Jackie Robinson Day.

“Those two guys were huge today,” manager Dave Roberts said of Hurt and Nick Ramirez’s respective performances against the Nationals. “You’re looking at trying to win a series, trying to win a game tomorrow. Yarbrough is going to pitch tomorrow, we do know that.

“And we’ve got to make a pitching move tonight. I don’t know yet, talking to it. We’ll talk through it tonight. But for Ramirez and Vanasco making his debut to take on two innings, Ramirez to go back-to-back, pitch three innings for us, was huge.

“And those are things that sort of get lost as the season goes on, but it allowed for them to take care of some other guys in the pen.”

Hurt is back for his second stint with the Dodgers this season. He made the Opening Day roster in South Korea and remained with the team once their 2024 schedule resumed stateside due to Brusdar Graterol and Blake Treinen both being on the 15-day injured list.

Hurt is 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA, 2.58 FIP and 1.29 WHIP in 4.2 innings pitched across two appearances at the big league level. He has posted a 6.75 ERA and 2.25 WHIP in two starts with Oklahoma City this year.

Salazar went 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three Triple-A starts this season. The 25-year-old pitched for the Cincinnati Reds in 2023, allowing 11 runs in 12.1 innings while notching his first Major League win on June 6 against the Dodgers.

He has pitched in 144 games (79 starts) in his Minor League career, going 24-25 with a 4.33 ERA and 432 strikeouts in 484 innings. He signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers on November 16, 2023.

Dodgers’ plans for Kyle Hurt

While Hurt has made all of his MLB appearances as a relief pitcher, the Dodgers still view him as a starter in the long run. He could potentially serve as an opener until Walker Buehler completes his rehab assignment.

Given that he logged only two innings in both of his starts for Oklahoma City, Hurt will be limited to an opener role with the Dodgers. He is getting the start on Thursday.