Dodgers News: Stewart, Hurt, & Sasaki Shine in Latest Rehab Appearance
The trio of right-handed bullpen options pitched well in the Triple-A season finale
TACOMA, WA—While the Los Angeles Dodgers wrapped up a four-game series with their National League West rival, the San Francisco Giants, unable to get the sweep, it was a positive day in Triple-A during the Oklahoma City Comets’ season finale.
As expected, three right-handed pitchers continued their minor league rehab: Kyle Hurt, Brock Stewart, and Roki Sasaki.
Each of the righties posted scoreless innings with Sasaki and Hurt tossing a 1-2-3 inning for the Comets, a positive sign for the Dodgers ’ bullpen that could activate all three of them in the final week of the regular season.
The day started with Hurt, who would relieve veteran left-hander Andrew Heaney in the third inning. Hurt would get two groundouts and an infield pop-up to end the scoreless 1-2-3 inning.
That was Hurt’s seventh rehab appearance for the Comets, where the righty has posted a 1.93 ERA in 9.1 minor league innings. Hurt has been recovering from last year’s season-ending Tommy John surgery and has maintained an average 95 mph velocity.
Next was Stewart, who was making his third minor league rehab appearance after being placed on the 15-day injured list in August after feeling right shoulder discomfort.
Stewart, like Hurt, would toss a scoreless frame, retiring three of the four batters faced in the inning. The line blemish was a one-out single to minor leaguer Victor Labrada, who would also steal second base with Stewart pitching.
Stewart would then get a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning, and hand the ball to Roki Sasaki in the sixth inning, where he’d make his second appearance out of the Comets ’ bullpen.
Sasaki would make quick work of the Tacoma Rainiers, getting a scoreless 1-2-3 innings on just nine pitches.
The inning would start with two quick groundouts, both of which were on the fastball, which averaged above 97 mph today.
The third batter for Sasaki would be his lone strikeout of the day, where he would throw three right splitters to end the at-bat and strikeout fashion.
After the outing, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Sasaki and Stewart will rejoin the team in Arizona this week. While Stewart is activated, he’ll go to his role in the ‘pen; Sasaki will have a meeting with the organization to discuss next steps, but Roberts continued that Sasaki had earned a look.
As for Kyle Hurt, he’ll remain in the conversation, but with only six games remaining, it’ll be hard for him and Sasaki to both get opportunities to prove their worth in the Dodgers bullpen.
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