LHP Kyle Hart (Indiana University), a member of the 2013 NECBL Southern Division Champion Newport Gulls is competing for a place on the 25-Man Active Roster during Spring Training this year as he has recently been named to the 40-Man Roster for the Boston Red Sox.
Hart attended Indiana University in Bloomington, IN from 2012 to 2016, playing for the Gulls after his sophomore season as a Hoosier. The Boston Red Sox selected the Cincinnati, OH native in the 19th Round of the 2016 MLB Draft and has been a dominant presence at each level he has played for.
Hart’s college success began immediately, making an impact for Indiana as just a freshman. He made 15 starts and ranked 10th in the Big Ten with a 3.21 ERA and 50 strikeouts, ultimately leading to a Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection. Hart put together another impressive season as a sophomore, ranking among the top performers in the Big Ten in all major categories. However, after starting 2014 with a 3-1 record and back-to-back Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors, Hart required Tommy John Surgery and sat out the remainder of the season. Upon returning to the field, it was as if Hart didn’t skip a beat. He put up a 1.21 ERA and a 5-0 record, leading the Hoosiers in wins.
Hart finished his career at Indiana second in wins (31), second in Big Ten wins (17), second in total innings pitched (338.2), and fifth in strikeouts (237).
In the summer of 2013, Hart helped the Gulls secure a 30-win season (30-17), one of four in team history in Gulls history. He appeared in 11 games throughout the season, two of which were starts. Over the course of 22.1 innings pitched, Hart struck out 20 opposing batters and notched one win and one save. He allowed just two earned runs in his final eight appearances, including four scoreless innings during the playoffs.
After being drafted in 2016, Hart’s ascent has been rapid. He spent 2016 and 2017 in Single-A minor league affiliates before playing the full 2018 season with Double-A Portland. In 24 starts, the southpaw held his opponents to a .233 batting average while recording seven wins and 100 strikeouts in 138 innings pitched. The call to Triple-A came after nine starts in Portland this past year in which Hart had a sub-3.00 ERA fanning 27 percent of batters faced in that time. Hart turned scouts’ heads right off the bat in his Triple-A debut. In his first visit to the mound in Triple A, Hart pitched a 9-inning shutout, scattering five hits and striking out eight. He finished the season with nine wins and 80 strikeouts in 100 innings pitched.
As of December 2019, Hart has been promoted to the 40-man roster on the Boston Red Sox spring training list. After the loss of some key players this offseason, the Red Sox are looking to add more depth in their bullpen. As pitchers and catchers reported on February 11th, Hart enters the roster as the 30th Overall Prospect as well as the 2nd ranked LHP for the Red Sox organization. As reported on Milb.com, Hart is looking to seize this opportunity, and” Get outs wherever the Red Sox need me to get outs”. Hart hopes to continue this mentality and begin his Major League Baseball career. The Newport Gulls wish Kyle Hart the best of luck as he continues to climb the ranks and works for a chance at the Major Leagues.
The original article can be found here:
http://newportgulls.pointstreaksites.com/view/newportgulls/news-media/news_529570