Last year, left-handed pitcher Kyle Hart (33, San Diego Padres) returned to Major League Baseball after his performance with the NC Dinos in the KBO League and has been showing signs of anxiety since the exhibition games. He has stepped away from the starting competition.

Hart started on the 23rd (Korean time) in an exhibition game against the Cleveland Guardians in the 2025 Major League Baseball season at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona, where he collapsed allowing 4⅔ innings of 5 hits (2 home runs), 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, and 6 earned runs, resulting in a loss.

Following his first appearance on the 17th against the Arizona Diamondbacks (3 innings, 5 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 2 earned runs), he suffered back-to-back losses in 2 games. His exhibition game earned run average surged from 6.00 to 9.39.

From the start of the first inning, after getting Rain Thomas on base with a hit-by-pitch with 2 outs, he gave up a two-run home run to Carlos Santana, conceding first points. He was hit for a home run on the 5th pitch, a changeup that dropped low, going over the left field wall on a line drive.

Hart, who found stability with consecutive three-up, three-down innings in the 2nd and 3rd, allowed more runs in the 4th inning with a home run. After allowing a double to Johnathan Noela with 2 outs, he permitted a two-run homer to Brian Rocchio. Rocchio hit Hart's first pitch sinker outside for a home run.

Ultimately, Hart could not endure the 5th inning. After giving up a hit and a stolen base to lead-off batter Will Wilson, he allowed another run with a two-out infield single by José Ramírez, making it 2 outs, 3rd base. Hart was pulled with 2 outs, 1st base, and the reliever Harold Chirinos gave up a two-run home run to Thomas. Hart's earned runs rose to 6. The game ended with San Diego losing 8-12.

On this day, Hart threw a total of 69 pitches, reaching a maximum speed of 92.1 mph (148.2 km/h), averaging 90.3 mph (145.3 km/h) with his sinker (17 pitches), as well as his sweeper, changeup, and slider (14 pitches each), and 10 four-seam fastballs. His fastball velocity has decreased slightly compared to when he was in Korea, and the effectiveness of his off-speed pitches has also diminished.

Hart was the best pitcher in the KBO League last year. He played 26 games (157 innings) with a record of 13 wins and 3 losses, an earned run average of 2.69, 182 strikeouts, a WHIP of 1.03, and a batting average against of .215. He ranked first in strikeouts, WHIP, and batting average against, second in earned run average, and third in wins, sweeping the KBO institutional sector Golden Glove along with the Choi Dong-won Award.

Recognizing this performance, he signed a Major League contract with San Diego on the 14th of last month. The contract guaranteed 1 year at $1.5 million, with a maximum of $8.5 million over 2 years. His salary this year is guaranteed at $1 million, with an additional $500,000 buyout amount if the club option is not exercised next year. If San Diego exercises the option, Hart can earn up to $7.5 million next year, including incentives based on the number of starts.

To secure a contract extension next year, he needs to produce competitive results this year, which would significantly raise his value. However, he has struggled in the exhibition games after failing to manage his condition due to the flu. He has missed a good opportunity. With Yu Darvish placed on the injured list due to elbow inflammation since the start of the season, two spots for 4th and 5th starters are vacant. Hart is in competition for a starting role with Randy Vasquez and Steven Kolek, and if this continues, he is likely to fall behind. In the exhibition games, Vasquez has a 3.38 earned run average over 3 games (8 innings), while Kolek has a 2.19 earned run average over 4 games (12⅓ innings).

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