The Dodgers are known for building elite pitching depth.
But two former starting prospects are now facing a career crossroads — and their path forward may come from the bullpen.

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Rewritten Article

Dodgers Shift Kyle Hurt and Bobby Miller to Bullpen Roles in 2026 Pitching Strategy

The Los Angeles Dodgers are once again reshaping their pitching strategy — and two familiar names are at the center of the transition.

Kyle Hurt and Bobby Miller, both originally developed as starting pitchers, are now moving into full-time bullpen roles for the 2026 season as the Dodgers look to maximize pitching depth over a long campaign.

For two pitchers once viewed as rotation candidates, the change marks a significant turning point.

A New Role for Kyle Hurt

Kyle Hurt spent all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, preventing him from appearing in a single Major League game.

However, during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Hurt began experimenting with bullpen work — a role that now appears set to define his return to the big leagues.

Speaking about the transition, Hurt confirmed the Dodgers have discussed a multi-inning relief role.

“The role is going to be out of the bullpen, most likely multi-innings, I’d assume,” Hurt said. “That’s about it right now — that’s all I know.”

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his exact usage, Hurt made it clear he’s willing to pitch wherever the team needs him.

Adjusting from Starter to Reliever

Moving from a starter’s routine to a reliever’s mindset requires a major adjustment.

Starters operate on strict schedules — preparing days in advance for a specific outing. Relievers, by contrast, must be ready at any moment.

Hurt acknowledged that the mental shift is one of the toughest parts of the transition.

“As a starter, you have your routine down to a T,” he explained. “As a reliever, it’s completely different. You don’t know when your name is going to get called or what situation you’ll be in.”

But once that call comes, the focus becomes simple.

“Your job is to throw strike one and get that guy out.”

Encouraging Rehab Results

Although Hurt didn’t pitch in the majors last season, his rehab outings in Triple-A offered promising signs.

Across seven relief appearances, he posted:

• 1.93 ERA
• 10 strikeouts
• 5 walks
• 9.1 innings pitched

Those performances helped convince the Dodgers that his power arsenal could translate effectively to a bullpen role.

Bobby Miller Also Embracing Change

Kyle Hurt isn’t the only pitcher making the shift.

Former top prospect Bobby Miller is also preparing for a bullpen role after a difficult 2025 season.

Miller made only two appearances with the Dodgers last year while spending most of the season in Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Between the minors and the majors, his numbers reflected the struggles:

• 7 runs allowed in two MLB appearances
• 5.66 ERA in Triple-A
• 3–6 record over 35 games

Despite the challenges, Miller believes he finished the year in a better place — especially after experimenting with relief work late in the season.

“Where I ended the season last year, in the bullpen, I felt like I was in a pretty good spot,” Miller said.

A Mindset Built Around Flexibility

Like Hurt, Miller understands that pitching for the Dodgers requires adaptability.

With one of the deepest pitching staffs in baseball, roster spots are never guaranteed.

“My thing is simple,” Miller said. “Whatever role they need me to do, I’ll do. It’s anything to be a Dodger.”

During the offseason, Miller prepared for both possibilities — training as if he might still be starting while remaining ready to shift to relief.

“I tried to ramp up as much as I could so I’d be ready for either one.”

Dodgers Focused on Rebuilding Confidence

Manager Dave Roberts emphasized that the current priority with Miller is simply getting him back to competing consistently.

“With Bobby, we just need to get him back to pitching,” Roberts explained. “It’s still a really good arm.”

After dealing with shoulder soreness last year, the Dodgers believe shorter outings may help him regain confidence and effectiveness.

“Right now it’s more of a short-burst situation,” Roberts said. “Get him out there, get hitters out, and see where that goes.”

A Strategic Bullpen Experiment

The Dodgers’ decision reflects a broader organizational philosophy: versatility.

Multi-inning relievers have become increasingly valuable in modern baseball, bridging the gap between starters and late-inning closers.

If Hurt and Miller succeed in those roles, Los Angeles could gain two powerful bullpen weapons capable of covering multiple innings.

And in a season expected to feature another deep playoff push, that flexibility may prove crucial.

The Bigger Picture

For both pitchers, the bullpen move doesn’t necessarily mean their starting careers are over.

The Dodgers still view Miller — in particular — as someone who could return to the rotation in the future.

But for now, the focus is simple:

Get healthy.
Get outs.
Help the team win.

Because in a Dodgers organization loaded with pitching talent, every opportunity must be earned — no matter the role.