Dodgers Prospect Notes: Sirota & De Paula mashing, George steals six, Linan & Copen dealing, Arizona Complex League underway, more

Bruce Kuntz 05/20/2025 Prospect Notes Leave A Comment

(Via @MLBPipeline)

Top Farm Batter

Mike Sirota continues to be the biggest standout in the system to begin the year. The 21-year-old has mashed to the tune of a 216 wRC+ through 27 games played between Single-A and High-A. There hasn’t been anything to dislike about his profile so far.

The Dodgers couldn’t sign Sirota when they drafted him out of high school, but they still got their man, and the Gavin Lux trade is looking good. Sirota’s nine home runs and .546 wOBA while playing mostly center field should have everyone excited. If things continue on this path, he’ll be a blue chip prospect by the end of the year, joining the likes of Josue De Paula and Zyhir Hope on a stacked organizational outfield depth chart.

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Top Farm Pitcher

Sean Linan has turned heads within Dodgers circles and from the rest of the league as well. The 20-year-old right-hander pitched to a 1.21 ERA and 44% strikeout rate through six Single-A games. After being sent to Great Lakes and making his High-A debut, Linan was shuttled to Oklahoma City for a spot start with the Comets, indicating a lot of trust from the organization. He held his own with six strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.

The story about Linan has revolved around his changeup. It is at least a plus pitch and has been the weapon that’s taken him to the next level this year. The Colombian hurler will look to continue his success moving forward in Great Lakes, as he’s quickly made himself stand out on the radar.

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Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets

Ryan Ward continues to hit for power in Triple-A. Now in his third season with Oklahoma City, the corner outfielder and first baseman has slugged .542 so far. At 27 years old, there’s not much else Ward can prove in the minors, but his limited all-around profile has held him back from a big league chance.

Alex Freeland has had a quality start to the year. A batted ball data darling with quality plate discipline, the 23-year-old is on track to make his debut this season. Freeland is slashing .279/.377/.424 for a 111 wRC+ to this point, indicating he is close to MLB ready. The UCF alum sports a good glove anywhere in the infield, which could eventually make the Dodgers consider him in Miguel Rojas‘ role if the front office decides to continue their recent trend of moving on from passed-their-prime veterans.

Justin Dean is a lesser known player who has taken a leap with the bat. Signed as a minor league free agent this offseason, the former Braves prospect has always been known as a glove-first center fielder, but the 28-year-old has posted a .913 OPS to begin his time with the Dodgers. Dean owns a .719 career OPS in the minor leagues, so it remains to be seen if his success will continue, but the Dodgers aren’t packed with 40-man rostered position player depth, so it’s not impossible Dean gets considered if injury woes arise.

Bobby Miller is in a bit of a limbo stage. Even as injuries have become an issue for the big league staff, the former top prospect seems to be operating as an afterthought. Miller has struggled to the tune of a 1.3 K-BB% in Triple-A this season while getting torched in his single big league look. He had a better go of it his last time out for the Comets, and if that outing could start a resurgence for the 26-year-old, that would be gratefully welcomed by the Dodgers.

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Double-A Tulsa Drillers

Speaking of resurgences, Jose Ramos is the first Dodger minor leaguer to reach double-digit home runs this season after his last two years in Double-A were perfectly average. Still just 24, the Panamanian is finally seeing his raw power translate to Texas League action. Ramos is tracking to get the bump to Oklahoma City soon.

If you look at Jackson Ferris‘ overall numbers, lead by a 5.23 ERA, you may be disappointed with his start to the season. However, things look better once you glance under the hood, as Ferris owns a 3.23 FIP and 16.5 K-BB%. His numbers are inflated by a couple blowup starts, which can’t be completely ignored, but his best outings have been superb. The 21-year-old southpaw is nearly four years younger than the average Texas leaguer and will be afforded plenty of time to dial in his consistency at the Double-A level.

A mid-draft college senior nabbed out of Troy, Kole Myers has quickly risen to Double-A since signing last July. Through 28 games this season, Myers has a 28% walk rate, reaching base at a .475 clip. While that walk rate may be unsustainable, it indicates an advanced approach that will allow the 24-year-old to take advantage of his speed on the basepaths, and he’s already stolen 10 bases.

Peter Heubeck has remained himself through his first taste of Double-A action. His command escapes him at times (13% walk rate), but the 22-year-old is missing bats and barrels, turning in a 33% strikeout rate and .156 opponent batting average. The former third round pick won Texas League Pitcher of the Week for a two-hit, eight-strikeout performance on Friday.

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High-A Great Lakes Loons

Josue De Paula is showing off his advanced skills at the plate, posting a .928 OPS that is second best in the Midwest League. The soon-to-be 20-year-old has taken a leap forward in game power while continuing to excel in every other aspect of his offensive game. De Paula is slashing .285/.417/.511 with more walks than strikeouts in 38 games. The power is showing through to all fields and even in left-on-left matchups, where he struggled to slug previously. Buy all available stock now: De Paula is looking like one of the most talented hitters in the minor leagues.

Kendall George made headlines by stealing six bases in a single game on Sunday, becoming one of only five minor league players to do so in the last decade. George is part of a stacked outfield group in Great Lakes and he’s performed well, posting a .364 on-base percentage with 19 stolen bases. The 20-year-old speedster continues to control the strike zone well and draw a lot of walks despite below average power.

Patrick Copen had a long road to get back on the mound this offseason, but you wouldn’t know it with how well he’s pitched. The 23-year-old has a 2.29 ERA, 39% strikeout rate and .129 opponent batting average against through eight starts. Copen has been unhittable, with a 16% walk rate being the only drawback in his performance so far. He could get moved up to Double-A soon.

Joe Vetrano missed most of the 2024 season due to injury, but the former fifth round pick has taken advantage of his time on the field this year. The powerful first baseman has 18 extra-base hits through 36 games, posting a 131 wRC+. Vetrano has big-time bat speed that will translate to a lot of power if he continues to make consistent contact.

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Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

Eduardo Quintero rose up the ranks in rookie ball as a valuable line-drive hitter, but he’s found a new gear in Single-A. The 19-year-old center fielder is tied for the California League lead with seven home runs. He’s put up a 170 wRC+ with 16 stolen bases through 32 games. Quintero has experienced an increase to his strikeout rate, but that’s more than acceptable if he keeps slugging like this. The Venezuelan teenager looks like he’s got legitimate five-tool potential and he may be a consensus top 100 prospect by year’s end.

Things are looking better for Samuel Munoz after he sputtered in his first taste of Single-A last year. The 20-year-old has an .857 OPS so far for the Quakes as he’s significantly increased his distribution of batted balls to the pull side. Munoz has former top 30 prospect pedigree and could quickly find himself back in that group with continued offensive production.

It felt like Mairoshendrick Martinus was nearing the end of his rope as he struggled mightily through his second Arizona Complex League campaign last year. Somehow, he’s looking like a completely different player as he made the shift to full-season ball. The Curaçaoan utilityman has a 181 wRC+ through 17 games split between Rancho Cucamonga and Great Lakes, striking out only 21% of the time compared to his 36% clip last summer. It’s a small sample size, and Martinus is running an unsustainable .488 BABIP, but it’s still a resurgence worth keeping an eye on to see if the spark stays alive.

Aidan Foeller‘s excellent fastball has powered the 2024 11th round pick to a 39% strikeout rate so far this season. In eight total games (seven starts) for the Quakes, the 23-year-old right-hander has a 3.44 ERA, although his shaky command has produced a 16% walk rate. Foeller runs his heater in the mid-to-high 90s and is a helium arm to watch, whether he eventually winds up as a starter or a reliever.

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Rookie Ball

The Arizona Complex League has officially gotten underway with its summer schedule. The Dodgers have a good group of young hitters there who have already stood out to start the year.

Ching Hsien-Ko has posted a 1.167 OPS through 10 games in Arizona. The Taiwanese 18-year-old was signed less than a year ago but has already turned many heads. With five-tool potential and a naturally powerful left-handed swing, he could be a serious standout in the desert this summer.

Brendan Tunink is another teenage outfielder who has gotten off to a good start. An eighth round pick last year, Tunink already has five extra-base hits through 11 games. Even as a high schooler at the MLB Draft Combine, Tunink was fun to watch hit. His athleticism and physicality lead an intriguing profile.

Coming off the Dominican Summer League MVP award last year, Emil Morales has already homered three times to begin action in Arizona. The 18-year-old has extremely easy power to all fields and could be a candidate for an aggressive Single-A promotion if things go well. Being stateside will be a test for Morales’ bat-to-ball ability. If his strikeouts stay under control, he’ll keep posting big power numbers.

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About Bruce Kuntz

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I'm a Long Beach State journalism student and I've been writing about the Dodgers and their farm system since I was in high school.
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