Kyle

Hart

Hart is aiming to return to the big leagues next season after a dominant run last season overseas in Korea where he finished with a stellar 2.69 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 182/38 K/BB ratio across 157 innings (26 starts). The 32-year-old journeyman southpaw, who made four appearances (three starts) for the Red Sox during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign said earlier this month in an interview with Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com last month that re-working his slider, in addition to increasing his average velocity on the offering into the 91 mph range, were the biggest variables that fueled his success overseas. Given the current state of the pitching market, Hart figures to secure a multi-year deal and should get a real chance to prove that his success in Korea wasn’t a mirage.

Hart made four relief appearances for the Red Sox during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign and has bounced around the upper minors ever since. The 31-year-old southpaw will make $900,000 overseas in 2024, which is considerably more than he would’ve made at the Triple-A level.

The 30-year-old southpaw hasn’t appeared in a big league game since making four appearances with the Red Sox during the truncated 2020 season. Hart made just one appearance for the Phillies at Triple-A Lehigh Valley before he was granted his release in mid-April. He’ll add extra pitching depth for the M’s at Triple-A.

Hart signed a minor league contract with the Phillies back in February and wound up making only one relief appearance for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 30-year-old lefty made four appearances (three starts) for the Red Sox during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

Hart made four appearances (three starts) for the Red Sox during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. The 30-year-old lefty spent the first seven years of his career in Boston’s system after being drafted back in 2016. He’ll provide the Phillies with some extra upper-level relief depth heading into the 2023 season.

Hart was bitten by a tick in May while working on his farm in Indiana. He was initially diagnosed with COVID-19, which delayed treatment, worsened his symptoms and contributed to him losing nearly 20 pounds. Hart really struggled during his four appearances with the Red Sox but says he “never really felt like myself,” adding that he “couldn’t remember some of the pitches I was throwing the inning before.” The southpaw was removed from Boston’s 40-man roster last month but remains in the organization.

The move frees up a spot on the team’s 40-man roster. The 27-year-old southpaw debuted for the Red Sox during the 2020 season, posting a cringe-inducing 15.55 ERA, 3.09 WHIP and 13/10 K/BB ratio over 11 innings. He’ll continue to function as organizational pitching depth.

This move clears out a 40-man roster spot for Tanner Houck, who is making his major league debut in a start Tuesday night against the Marlins. Hart is done for the year with a left hip impingement.

He evidently must have suffered the injury during Tuesday’s appearance. Andrew Triggs is taking his spot on the roster.

Hart has a 13.00 ERA after three starts, so even though the Red Sox aren’t exactly trying to win at this point, it still might be for the best if they didn’t continue trying to make this work. Hart has walked 10 batters in nine innings, which wouldn’t cut it even if he were throwing 99 mph rather than his usual 89 mph.