By SDCN Staff
Peoria, AZ–The San Diego Padres have bolstered their pitching staff by signing left-hander Kyle Hart to a one-year contract for the 2025 season, with a club option for 2026, the team announced through President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller.
Hart, 32, is coming off a dominant 2024 campaign with the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), where he earned the prestigious Choi Dong-won Award—the league’s equivalent of Major League Baseball’s Cy Young Award. He led the KBO with 182 strikeouts while ranking second in wins (13) and ERA (2.69) over 26 starts. The 6-foot-5 southpaw also displayed impressive control, issuing just 38 walks across 631 batters faced for a 6.0% walk rate, while his 28.8% strikeout rate showcased his ability to overpower hitters. Additionally, Hart allowed just 124 hits—the fewest among all qualifying KBO starters.
Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Hart was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 19th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut in 2020 during the pandemic-shortened season, appearing in four games (three starts) for Boston. Across seven minor league seasons with the Red Sox (2016-22), Seattle Mariners (2023), and Philadelphia Phillies (2023), Hart compiled a 42-47 record with a 3.72 ERA, tallying 618 strikeouts and 259 walks over 143 appearances (119 starts), including five complete games.
Before turning pro, Hart was a standout at Indiana University, serving as the team’s Friday night starter during his senior season in 2016. That year, he led the Big Ten in wins (10) and finished his collegiate career as the second-winningest pitcher (31 wins) in Hoosiers history. He also earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors, was named to the ABCA/Rawlings Mideast All-Region Team, and twice received Big Ten Player of the Week recognition.
With his return to Major League Baseball, Hart looks to carry his international success into San Diego’s rotation as the Padres continue to build their roster for the 2025 season.
