Kyle Hart Determined To Keep Winning Throughout MLB Climb
Kyle Hart wants to struggle. Really, he does.
The former Hoosier ace is just beginning his professional pitching career with the Boston Red Sox after being drafted in the 19th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. After a couple of scheduled off weeks at the recommendation of team doctors, Hart is set to return to the mound in Fort Myers, Florida, with Boston’s rookie ball team.
He doesn’t want to labor through at-bats from the beginning, he can’t afford to. But before long, Hart said he wants to find his peak whether that be in rookie ball, Single-A, Triple-A or wherever his arm might take him. Only then can he step back, retool and make his push toward being a major league ballplayer.
“I want to find a level where I don’t have the ability to win,” Hart said. “I want to find a level where I struggle to get people out. When you do, you’ve reached threshold, and just like thousands and thousands of pitchers before me, you’ve got to try to reinvent yourself and see if you can go further to that next plateau. Then again.”
Hart’s journey up the minor league ladder begins with the Gulf Coast Red Sox where he’s surrounded by plenty of other pitchers competing alongside him. They're teammates, but they'll all be eying the same major league roster spots.
Hart, 23, said the Red Sox elected to send him to Fort Myers because it’s also the home of Boston’s spring training facilities. The majority of the team’s top doctors work there, and they wanted to keep an eye on Hart’s arm after throwing 98.1 innings for Indiana in his senior season after undergoing Tommy John surgery the year before.
At the doctor’s orders, Hart took a couple of weeks off to begin his career. He mostly worked out while other pitchers threw, charting throwing sessions and doing whatever he could to stay engaged while he wasn’t on the mound.
“You’re just doing everything but pitching,” Hart said. “It’s not necessarily a good thing or a bad thing, but it was the team’s choice... I still feel sharp, never really let down mentally. I’ve just been ramping things up, building things to where they want me to be.”
Hart is set to start throwing again this weekend and expects to be pitching in games again sooner rather than later. Even though he feels sharp, he said he’s still itching to get back onto the mound and see where he’s at.
Once he does see live action, Hart will try to deliver on a promise he made to Boston and every other scout that looked at him.
“I told all those guys and people who asked me that wherever I go, I’m going to win,” Hart said. “Find me somewhere where I can’t do what I’ve been doing.”
Hart's numbers to date back up that claim. His 31 career wins rank No. 2 all-time among Indiana pitchers.
He had 10 wins in his senior season alone as the Friday night starter, leading the Big Ten in wins and sporting a 3.29 ERA. He was never particularly overpowering but didn't need to be.
As head coach Chris Lemonis would say time and time again, Hart would just find ways to get outs.
“I’d like to think that what I’ve been doing to be the pitcher I am right now is capable of winning still at not just this level, but some other levels above it,” Hart said. “I do anticipate the need to get stronger physically and improve my body, which hopefully will improve overall velocity. I know pitchers are always talking about velocity this and that, but you need it to move yourself up.”
Hart’s goal is to be in a big league clubhouse one day, but the same could be said for every other minor leaguer out there. He knows the odds are against him, but he isn’t one to dwell on much of anything, let alone baseball.
He’s just happy to have a chance.
“Nobody’s going to give you anything at this level. You have to earn it,” Hart said. “You have to just refuse to be who you were a week ago. I think that’s going to be my motto. How can I improve this week? Hopefully that brings me where I need to go.”