2026 Dodgers Digest Midseason Top 50 Prospects

Top #Dodgers OF prospect Josue De Paula launched a walk-off 3-run homer for Tulsa pic.twitter.com/6AWwUoyyy0

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) August 19, 2026

Josue De Paula has had a magnificent year in Double-A. He’s made significant progress in translating his raw power onto the field, pulling more fly balls without sacrificing any of the approach and discipline that makes him so unique. De Paula has walked just about as much as he’s struck out this year, both at 14%, while pairing a 27% chase rate with an 89% in-zone contact rate.

The 21-year-old is on track to move up to Triple-A sometime this year, where he will hit with the big-league baseball and see if he can be just as successful. De Paula has run into some left-on-left trouble this season for the first time in his career, posting a .735 OPS against southpaws without only one homer in 105 at-bats, but the sample is too limited to start worrying. He has previously been just as good against lefties as righties, but he’s swung in-zone less and chased more against southpaws than righties this year.

Projected as an above-average hitter with double-plus raw power, De Paula has a bat-first profile, but he should be able to stick in the corner outfield. It won’t be at a gold-glove level, but he has enough mobility that, unless it drastically tanks as he finishes filling out, he should be alright as his reads progress.

Despite his fringe-average foot speed, De Paula’s advanced feel for the game translates to the bases, as he’s stolen 29 bags in 107 games this season. Think 2023 Freddie Freeman and his 23 stolen bases despite 34th percentile sprint speed. Any stolen bases for De Paula would be a plus as a potential .350+ on-base, 30 home-run talent.

Top #Dodgers OF prospect Eduardo Quintero homered again today for Great Lakes

This is a new tweet and not the one you saw yesterday. This one was a grand slam pic.twitter.com/JGSgy1a5ap

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) July 10, 2026

As has happened to many in the early-season Midwest League, Eduardo Quintero had a cold start to the year before heating up alongside the Michigan weather. Since getting going, he’s been one of the best hitters not only in the system, but in all of the minor leagues.

Quintero has some similarities to Mike Sirota’s profile except with less raw power, more stable defense and way more stolen bases. He sprays line drives gap-to-gap in the same way, hitting the ball hard at good launch angles to all fields, even as a 20-year-old. Quintero also has an extremely disciplined approach, although some of his can leak into in-zone passivity. Still, an 18% chase rate and 90% in-zone contact rate is a rare pairing in hitters this young.

The Venezuelan’s level swing has struggled to reach right-handed breaking balls at times before, so that’s something to keep an eye on whenever Quintero reaches Double-A. His hit tool is dragged down a bit by the potential for strikeouts at higher levels, but his strikeout rates look higher than his true bat-to-ball ability simply because he works so many deep counts. His swing isn’t geared to pull fly balls a ton, so his power projects more around 20 homers per season than the 25+ his contact quality suggests.

There’s next to zero doubt that the former catcher will stick in center field long-term, and he could even be a plus defender there given his plus arm strength and plus speed. So with it stated that he is a no-doubt center fielder, let’s get to arguably the most fun part of this profile: the stolen bases. Quintero translates every bit of his above-average-to-plus speed in this category, having swiped 87 bases across the last two seasons. His on-base ability paired with his feel for stealing bases provides an exciting offensive ceiling.

Top #Dodgers OF prospect Mike Sirota extended his on-base streak to 68 games in style by going yard pic.twitter.com/iBZ7ihHthf

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) July 6, 2026

Coming off an injury-shortened but fantastic first professional season last year, Mike Sirota entered 2026 looking to prove that his performance was no fluke. He’s done that and more, posting a 171 wRC+, good for fifth-best in the minor leagues, and sustaining the second-longest on-base streak in minor league history at 72 games. Sirota is looking like a huge return on investment for the Dodgers, who first could not sign him after drafting him out of high school in 2021, then pivoted to acquiring alongside a draft pick from the Reds for Gavin Lux in January 2025.

Much of Sirota’s on-base ability is fueled by his supreme feel for the strike zone. Since reaching Double-A, he has a miniscule 14% chase rate and has walked in one-fifth of his plate appearances. He’s barely swung the bat thanks to his lack of chase and how often pitchers are nibbling around the zone against him, which is because of how well he’s hit the ball when he does decide to go after it.

Sirota has hit the ball hard with extreme consistency and at ideal launch angles. He uses the entire field and has the strength to slug without using only the pull-side. The one big drawback in his profile is some high fastball whiff which could be exposed more often and limit his hit-tool to fringe-average once he reaches the show, where pitchers can locate their heaters more consistently.

Defensively, Sirota has a chance to stick in center field. His reads aren’t perfect but he has plus speed to help make up ground. His plus arm also means that if he needed to move to a corner, he could be an above-average defender there. Sirota isn’t super aggressive on the bases but could steal 15-20 bags per season if he gets comfortable running more often.

Another 8 strikeouts tonight for top #Dodgers RHP prospect Christian Zazueta

One of the buzziest prospects in all of baseball right now pic.twitter.com/FRYBRlyQOt

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) July 2, 2026

Christian Zazueta’s rise during the last two years could be described as nothing short of a rocket ship. He’s mowed through hitters with a comical combination of stuff and command, especially since he was moved up to Double-A. Through eight starts with Tulsa, the 21-year-old sports a 2.91 ERA, 40% strikeout rate and 4% walk rate.

Much of Zazueta’s breakout has been linked to the development of his fastball. Once a pitch that showed solid action but lacked standout velocity when the Dodgers acquired him from the Yankees in the Caleb Ferguson trade, Zazueta’s fastball has grown into a plus-or-better offering. It works in the mid-90s while touching 97 mph, but particularly stands out with its quality characteristics: It checks all the boxes of carry, arm-side run, a flat approach angle and quality command.

His best secondary is his plus changeup that has helped him neutralize left-handed hitters throughout his minor league career. Zazueta has struck out lefties at a 40% clip this season, and his fastball and changeup pairing is all he needs to be successful in those matchups. His slider profiles as average with fringey action but good command, so he’ll likely use his changeup often against right-handers too.

The caveat with a profile like this (lots of high four-seam, three pitches) is the potential for the home run Achilles heel. Zazueta commands his stuff well enough to stay out of the heart of the plate, but he still profiles as a fly ball pitcher, and his mistakes could leave the yard. He has a No. 2 or 3 starter ceiling, depending on where the fastball velocity settles and where his command finishes in the above-average-to-plus range. It’s hard to imagine him not becoming at least a backend starter; absolute worst case, if no variation of his slider worked against big leaguers, the Sonora, Mexico native could be a fastball-changeup reliever with command way too good for a bullpen.

Top #Dodgers SS prospect Emil Morales went dead center for a grand slam pic.twitter.com/338pf5kChb

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) August 20, 2026

Emil Morales has built a track record of success throughout every level of the lower minor leagues. Now, the Dodgers’ top signee in their 2024 international class stands as the clear best infield prospect in the system.

The biggest tool for Morales has always been his power. He possessed the strength to hit line drives for homers to all fields even back in the Dominican Summer League, where he won MVP honors in 2024. The Spain-born Morales has made progress the last three years not only in his contact consistency but also in idealizing his swing for power, pulling fly balls at a 35% clip in High-A this season. After adjusting to the level for a bit, Morales has a 162 wRC+ since June 21.

Morales still has a boom-or-bust outlook thanks to the whiff and chase in his profile. His 78% zone-contact rate in High-A leaves room for improvement but is not a catastrophic clip either. With room to add even more strength to his 6-foot-3 frame and his developed propensity for pulled fly balls, Morales has easy 30-homer upside.

If he sticks at shortstop with that offense, he could be a superstar. Morales certainly has the defensive tools to stick on the left side of the infield, even if he does end up growing out of shortstop. The 19-year-old has average mobility but positive athleticism and a plus arm that helps a long-term home at shortstop remain a possibility despite his size. Morales is the type of prospect that could explode or implode with the jump to Double-A based on how his hit tool holds up.

Top #Dodgers LHP prospect Zach Root today for Tulsa:

6.0 IP / 5 H / 3 ER / 0 BB / 10 K

Root threw 93 pitches (62 strikes) and generated 16 whiffs pic.twitter.com/TIg7dgl6Rl

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) August 7, 2026

Zach Root threw a sinker in college at Arkansas that didn’t profile very well for a professional transition. When the Dodgers took him 40th overall, they got him into the lab and used his release characteristics that they had identified to create an essentially brand-new pitcher, swapping his sinker for a four-seam fastball that has been great in 2026.

Across 18 starts between High-A and Double-A, Root has struck out about 1/3 of the batters he’s faced. His command is no longer at the level it was in college, but that was a necessary sacrifice for the stuff jump he’s experienced since turning pro. His fastball has been up to 99 mph with action that annihilates hitters at the top of the zone.

Root’s secondaries are strong as well. His curveball was already plus coming out of college, so that didn’t need much tweaking. His arsenal rounds out with a slider, changeup and tight cutter that flashes plus.

At 22 years old, Root is on track to potentially debut as a spot starter next season. He profiles as a mid-rotation arm and a development win for L.A.

Top #Dodgers OF prospect Chuck Davalan homered for the second time today

He has the same number of home runs as strikeouts since the beginning of July (12) pic.twitter.com/d9uVFVaFHq

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) August 14, 2026

Charles “Chuck” Davalan has had a remarkable year in High-A, particularly over the last month and a half, a stretch where he’s been as good as any hitter in the minor leagues. Since June 28, Davalan’s smooth left-handed swing has produced a 208 wRC+, a 1.254 OPS and almost as many home runs as strikeouts (13 to 16).

The Dodgers took him 41st overall last year, joining college teammate Root as back-to-back L.A. selections out of Arkansas. He entered into an already-logjammed outfield prospect group, which is the only reason he’s been in High-A this long. The 22-year-old has great bat-to-ball skills, walking more than he’s struck out for the Loons, and has produced more game power than was expected coming out of college. Davalan has done a great job pulling fly balls to get the most of his average raw power.

Additionally, the 5-foot-9 Davalan is an above-average runner. He should be able to steal 15-20 bases per season. The Ontario, Canada native’s reads in the outfield aren’t perfect, but he should be able to handle left field at an average level. The Dodgers have given him reps in center field as well to see if he can progress and potentially work up the middle; if he could, Davalan’s ceiling would grow significantly.

#Dodgers OF/1B prospect James Tibbs III lifted his 23rd home run of the season pic.twitter.com/mQ1En46RHl

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) August 14, 2026

James Tibbs III has had a very good first full year in the Dodgers organization after arriving in the Dustin May trade at 2025’s trade deadline. He’s consistently found the barrel this season, posting a 105 mph 90th% exit velocity and 52% hard-hit rate in Triple-A. His .987 OPS and 26 home runs are both top three in the organization.

The question for Tibbs in the majors will be how much he can realize his raw power in games. He does a good job not chasing, but his 78% in-zone contact rate and 12% pulled fly ball rate are both subpar. Luckily for the last point, he has enough pop to leave the yard to all fields, but that’s still not the most idealized way to tap into his above-average raw power.

Tibbs will be limited to the corner outfield or first base long-term, where he will be below-average but playable. If he makes enough contact to hit 20-25 homers per season, he could be a nice platoon or average everyday player.

Bo Lowrance, first-rounder?

He has several potential landing spots between 17-27 in today's updated mock draft 👀https://t.co/49FuQgwEIS pic.twitter.com/YaiZ2kwG8u

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 29, 2026

The Dodgers drafted Bo Lowrance with their first round pick this year and signed him over-slot. A physical high school shortstop, Lowrance’s profile revolves around his bat, and he has a lofty offensive ceiling.

Lowrance is already listed at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds as an 18-year-old. He’s got decent raw power already with more strength to add on his frame. As an amateur, he showed above-average contact skills as well, deploying an all-fields line drive approach that has drawn comps to Freddie Freeman.

While he was announced as a shortstop, Lowrance will almost certainly move to third base eventually if not immediately. He will look to be a fringe-average defender there to prevent a move to first base. The Dodgers poured almost 75% of their bonus pool this year into Lowrance, so his offensive development may be make-or-break for the 2026 class.

Top #Dodgers 3B prospect Chase Harlan went deep for the Loons pic.twitter.com/HB2kP4si2m

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) July 11, 2026

Chase Harlan rebounded from a middle-of-the-pack 2025 to dominate Single-A for the first few months of 2026. The freshly-turned 20-year-old has made progress with his approach and bat-to-ball skills, homering 10 times and cutting his strikeout rate below 20% with the Tower Buzzers.

Since being promoted to High-A, Harlan’s production has slowed down a bit, which is normal for a player this young whose main flaw is contact. Harlan projects with double-plus raw power and the potential for 30 homers per season if he can make enough contact.

Harlan is the kind of player who can take time to adjust with every promotion in the minor leagues. The Dodgers will have to be patient with him adjusting to each level and hope his bat-to-ball skills don’t bottom out in the upper minors. Defensively, he has a fringey chance to stick at third base, but a move to first or the corner outfield is certainly a possibility.

#Dodgers LHP prospect Adam Serwinowski struck out 9 today for Tulsa, but he gave up 6 runs

It’s been an interesting year for Serwinowski, whose surface numbers look rough, but has still had some good things going on under the hood pic.twitter.com/4XoFeKkUH3

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) July 25, 2026

It hasn’t been a very successful season for Adam Serwinowski based on his surface numbers, but he still has flashed encouraging signs. This is the southpaw’s first full season in the organization after being acquired from Cincinnati at last year’s deadline.

It’s tough to tell whether he’ll end up as a starter or reliever, which is largely tied to his ability to throw strikes. Serwinowski has run 45% zone and 13% walk rates this year, not taking any leap from 2025. His changeup/splitter also still isn’t a great third pitch, but he’s added a cutter that looks solid and could make up for that deficiency.

The 22-year-old is a likely big leaguer in some capacity, either as a mid-to-back end rotation starter or potentially a high-leverage reliever. His fastball and slider (plus maybe this new cutter to help with RHB) would be enough for an intriguing relief profile even if his strike throwing remains below average.

#Dodgers OF prospect Zach Ehrhard homered for OKC tonight

Ehrhard has an .898 OPS and has continued to produce after adjusting from a cold start to the season pic.twitter.com/jJUvT7rTon

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) August 12, 2026

Zach Ehrhard is the other prospect the Dodgers acquired in the Dustin May deal last year alongside Tibbs. A former fourth rounder from Oklahoma State, Ehrhard started cold in Triple-A before quickly turning things around and having a productive season so far.

The 23-year-old has a well-rounded profile that could work as a fringe-average everyday player or a quality right-handed platoon/fourth outfielder. Much of Ehrhard’s damage this season has come against southpaws, though he’s held his own against righties.

Ehrhard has some swing and miss in his game, specifically against right-handers, but also has more raw power than his 5-foot-9 frame would suggest. He’s an above-average runner who has spent significant time at all three outfield spots in 2026. He projects more as a weak-side platoon or bench option on a team like the Dodgers but could pass for more playing time on a non-playoff team, especially if he can play a capable center field.

Cam Leiter had his usual stuff tonight.

3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 44 PC (56.8% SR)

The leadoff walk in the first inning was all the baserunner Leiter allowed tonight, as he struck out five across three scoreless innings with his high-90s fastball (97-98 mph acc. broadcast) pic.twitter.com/KAJ85dCHLJ

— DodgersLite (@dodgerslite) August 12, 2026

Cam Leiter is a physical right-hander who fit the Dodger draft mold when taken while injured in 2025. He got back on the field this year and has found success with Single-A Ontario, posting a 36% strikeout rate and 60% ground ball rate.

The 22-year-old has a starter’s arsenal, showing a plus fastball and above-average changeup and slider. The drawback on his starter projection comes with health and command.

Leiter has a 45% zone rate and 12% walk rate this year, both leaving room for improvement, and he’s dealt with injuries since his time in college. The Dodgers have time to develop him as a starter, but he could become an electric reliever if he’s eventually forced to shift roles.

Jacob Kmatz (TBR) has dominated hitters this season across both Hi-A and Double-A

In 51 innings, he's racked up 74 Ks while posting a 3.00 ERA, 3.52 FIP, and a 3.08 xFIP. His 32.5% K-BB% is the 3rd best mark in the minors (Min. 50 IP). Only a 4.5% BB%pic.twitter.com/rZBRJ7rOlN

— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) August 1, 2026

The newest face in the system, the Dodgers acquired Jacob Kmatz from Tampa Bay in the Jack Suwinski/Hunter Feduccia deal just a couple weeks ago. A former starting pitcher at Oregon State, the Rays transitioned Kmatz to relief this year, where he has thrived.

The 23-year-old right-hander has an absurd 31% K-BB rate this year. He’s got three plus-or-better pitches in his fastball, slider and curveball. HIs command is more average than his miniscule walk rate would suggest, but he generates so much chase that even when he misses the zone, hitters go after it.

Kmatz has stuff that will play in the majors. He should figure into the Dodgers bullpen next year, even if it’s on a shuttle from Triple-A to MLB if he doesn’t immediately establish himself. He’s nearly big-league ready already.

Brooks Auger…LFG!
4IP | 1H | 0R | 6Ks | 1BB

This was Auger's 4th outing of the year, and he's allowed JUST 1 earned run, and he has 20Ks to JUST 3 walks…WOW! His ERA is 0.77, his average against is .190, and his WHIP is JUST 0.94.

Dude is a professional glove hitter…With… pic.twitter.com/onPswJklgB

— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) May 17, 2026

Brooks Auger had a rough transition to the professional ranks in 2025, but he’s shaken that off with a quality season so far as he’s repeated High-A. Across 50 innings, Auger has a 22% K-BB rate and has struck out one-third of the batters he’s faced.

Profiling as a back-end starter, Auger has a four-pitch mix and solid command. None of his pitches particularly stand out, although his fastball is above-average in the mid-90s with good action. Auger gets down the mound well and has a somewhat deceptive release that helps his pitches play up.

The Dodgers will look to build his workload, but Auger isn’t too far away from being major league ready as a spot starter. He isn’t Rule 5 eligible until next offseason, so L.A. will probably scale up his workload heavily in 2027.

#Dodgers LHP prospect Jackson Ferris with a strong outing today:

5.0 IP / 4 H / 0 R / 1 BB / 9 K

Ferris sat 93 mph on his sinker and posted a 42% overall whiff rate. His curveball and slider both got whiffs on half their swings pic.twitter.com/dJvGXBprQE

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) August 17, 2026

Jackson Ferris has trended down a bit the last two years as he’s had a bumpy transition to the upper minor leagues. His adjustment to Triple-A this year has been particularly rough as he’s posted an ERA of nearly seven and seen his strikeout rate regress to 22%.

The main issue for Ferris has been his fastball. The Dodgers have him throwing a sinker now as his main heater in an attempt to mitigate the damage his four-seamer had allowed when it was the primary option. Still, he’s only 22 and the Pacific Coast League is a batted ball nightmare, so the profile is more important to look at here than the results.

Ferris still looks like a backend starter. His command is average and could grow a bit more, and his slider is still a good secondary. Ferris is Rule 5 eligible this offseason, so that will be the big tell on how bullish the Dodgers are on his progress internally. I’d expect Ferris to be selected if he isn’t rostered.

#Dodgers OF prospect Kendall George just stole his 100th base of the season pic.twitter.com/thh0RW5IyZ

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) September 5, 2025

Kendall George has gotten back to embracing the chaos-ball that makes him a unique player. He’s an 80-grade runner who takes advantage of his speed across his game. The 21-year-old slaps ground balls to the left side and beats them out routinely, and he stole 33 bases in 55 games this year after swiping 100 in 2025.

George will hit for essentially zero home run power, which will limit his walks since pitchers will come right after him, but he has a good eye to not expand the zone. Unfortunately, George’s season is already over after undergoing knee surgery stemming from an incident when he dodged the Tulsa bat dog in May.

Defensively, George has made some progress on his reads, but still has some room to grow to become the above-average center field defender his profile requires. Assuming he can regain all of his speed following knee rehab, many of his outfield reads and throwing arm shortcomings are nullified by how quickly he reaches balls hit near him.

#Dodgers OF prospect Ching-Hsien Ko hit a game-tying 9th inning home run for Ontario pic.twitter.com/QvRTEP0Mb0

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) April 29, 2026

Ching-Hsien Ko has upped his power production this year, hitting less ground balls and flashing a nice left-handed power stroke. He only just turned 20, but the Taiwanese outfielder has a chance for solid tools across the board.

Ko has some zone-contact issues that are red flags for potentially dragging his hit tool to below-average. But, with a 6-foot-3 frame that has room to add strength and quality control of the strike zone, Ko could still have a playable offensive profile without batting .270. He profiles as a corner outfielder but has a good arm and could be an average defender.

Moises Acacio pic.twitter.com/aiH1i3pU7h

— Follow @bnicklaus7 (@burce_media) August 17, 2026

Moises Acacio stood out among the teenage hitters in Arizona this summer, putting up an 87% contact rate and 108 mph max exit velocity. His surface numbers were productive too, and it launched Acacio onto the radar.

The Venezuelan utilityman was part of the Dodgers’ 2025 international class. In only 60 rookie ball games, he’s appeared at every position except catcher, first base and pitcher. Acacio is a name to watch whenever he moves up to Ontario.

#Dodgers SS Aidan West had a fun first inning. He opened the game with an excellent play up the middle, then ripped a mid-90s heater for a single. pic.twitter.com/XB1FbdvSwn

— Josh Norris 🐻 (@jnorris427) March 21, 2026

Aidan West turned some heads in the Arizona Complex League this year with big exit velocities for a teenager. His profile is far from flawless, but it’s hard not to be intrigued by a 19-year-old shortstop (for now) who put up a 108 mph 90th percentile and 111 mph max exit velocity in rookie ball.

The 2025 third-round pick has plenty of swing-and-miss and chase in his game that will need to be worked on. But his positive speed and quick-twitch power create an athlete that’s worth keeping an eye on, even if he’s a better long-term fit at second base than shortstop.

Luke Fox…DAYUM!
Talkin’ about makin’ a SPLASH in your 1st outing of the year.
6IP | 3H | 1R | 8Ks | 0BB
I mean, where do you start? 1 run in 6 innings is awesome, 8 Ks is awesomer, and 0 walks might be the awesomest. Sweeping breaking ball was BIG, but he also had “subtle”… pic.twitter.com/2VwzbzW2z9

— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) April 3, 2026

Luke Fox missed a large chunk of this season due to injury, but he’s back on the field now and looking good in Double-A. The 24-year-old southpaw was only a 17th round pick while he was injured back in 2023, but the Dodgers have developed him into an interesting arm.

The Duke alumni brings a four-pitch mix with his four-seam, sweeper, cutter and changeup, and his command has a chance to develop into average territory. Fox is Rule 5 eligible this offseason and will be one of the most interesting decisions for the Dodgers to make; he’s close to major league ready either as a spot starter or reliever, but would they protect him over Ferris?

Eduardo Rojas drove in two runs on a single in his first Low-A plate appearance, and the Tower Buzzers have already tagged Yusei Kikuchi for six runs with only one out recorded. pic.twitter.com/M3tkRBSdZL

— DodgersLite (@dodgerslite) August 16, 2026

Eduardo Rojas was signed under-the-radar in May 2024 and has become one of the more intriguing catching prospects in the system. He transitioned to Arizona this year and showed maturity at the plate.

The 19-year-old catcher features average bat-to-ball skills with room to add some pop to his frame and solid skills behind the plate. Any catcher with the potential for fringe-average offense and a good glove is valuable, so Rojas will look to continue his trajectory into full-season ball.

#Dodgers top 30 prospect Elijah Hainline with a diving grab for out number two. @TulsaDrillers pic.twitter.com/LwM2J0ociC

— Dodgers_After_Duty (@msalas24) August 13, 2026

Elijah Hainline has performed at every level since turning pro. The former Oregon State Beaver has had another strong campaign in Double-A this year. He’s a patient utility infielder with decent wheels and the ability to move around on defense.

Hainline’s offensive tools are modest, but his plate discipline stands out and boosts his on-base outlook. He makes flashy plays on defense as the Dodgers have had him mostly at shortstop this year. The 23-year-old projects as a glove-first bench infielder who could rotate around or hold down the weak side of a platoon.

#Dodgers 2B prospect Kellon Lindsey has homered in back-to-back games pic.twitter.com/cx61p13qHj

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) July 22, 2026

The dream with Kellon Lindsey when the Dodgers drafted him 23rd overall was Trea Turner. It hasn’t been realized so far as Lindsey has dealt with injuries and moved completely off of shortstop. His surface numbers have been good this year as his contact quality has improved, but swing and miss is still a concern.

The 20-year-old has top-shelf speed that rivals George for best in the organization, but he doesn’t use it in the same way George does. With contact issues and with shortstop having been removed from his profile, Lindsey’s projection relies on the hope he can make the most of his average raw power in order to be a capable regular.

Hyun-Seok Jang (LAD) is one of the most electric pitching prospects you've never heard of. After struggling with walks to start his pro career, he has greatly improved his strike-throwing this season and owns an excellent 21.3 K-BB% this season. His changeup has a 50% whiff rate https://t.co/s6577gYPuo pic.twitter.com/VKwdBJWJFB

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) August 11, 2026

In a year where it was much needed, Hyun-Seok Jang has had a breakout of sorts in 2026, posting better peripheral numbers in Single-A and performing great across his first few High-A outings. After struggling mightily to command his excellent arsenal the last few years, Jang has finally gotten around the zone.

With an above-average fastball and three plus secondaries, Jang has all the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter. The 22-year-old will surely still battle with command moving up through the minors though, and the Dodgers will have to try to move him through somewhat faster now given his age and 2027 Rule 5 timeline. He still may be destined for a relief-role, where his high-octane stuff would fit nicely.

@greatlakesloons RHP Tyler Gough sets a career high 11 strikeouts in 5.2 innings. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/AP0iKqJPiY

— Dodgers_After_Duty (@msalas24) August 5, 2026

Acquired from Seattle in the offseason in a 40-man margins move, Tyler Gough has had a strong first year in the organization. Across Single-A and High-A, he’s posted a 2.02 ERA and 33% strikeout rate.

Gough is already 23 and will be Rule 5 eligible this offseason, but if the Dodgers can hold onto him, they could accelerate his timeline in 2027. He’s got two good secondaries in his slider and curveball and could work as a backend starter or middle reliever if they want to speed up his progression.

We’ve got a January 15 international signings update coming on Monday for Baseball America subscribers.

Here’s a look at Rubel Arias, outfielder from the Dominican Republic, hitting balls out at 16 years old. One of the big names to know for Jan. 15. pic.twitter.com/diTF7n1Tdy

— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 5, 2026

The top bonus dished out by the Dodgers in this year’s international free agency class, Rubel Arias is a smooth-swing outfielder who is only 17. He didn’t put up great numbers in the Dominican Summer League this year but projects with good feel for the barrel.

Arias is a plus runner who could be a decent defender, too, although his arm isn’t great. The Dominican Republic native will likely move stateside next year and look to add some power to his production.

RYAN WARD GRAND SLAM. pic.twitter.com/XQbDkD0Cph

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 11, 2026

Ryan Ward finally broke through to the majors this year, but after a hot start, cooled off and was sent back to Triple-A. He has good raw pop but too much whiff and chase for a comfortable profile. His minor league numbers have also regressed from last year, when he won the Pacific Coast League home run crown.

It looks like Ward is likely limited to a platoon or bench ceiling, and his defense isn’t going to force him onto the field either. He’s a one-main-tool player who needs to slug against right-handers to make it in the big leagues. For now, the 28-year-old continues to wait in Triple-A as corner outfield/first base depth.

Marlon Nieves recorded his longest outing since his first start of the season.

5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 73 PC (60.3% SR)

The right-hander is making steady progress since returning from the injured list a month ago. pic.twitter.com/OcxCdD4Wy8

— DodgersLite (@dodgerslite) August 10, 2026

Marlon Nieves has had a tough year in Single-A, struggling with command and spending a stint on the injured list. He still isn’t falling too far because of his arm talent and top two pitches: his two-seam fastball and slider both flash plus.

While his command has taken a step back in 2026, he has only thrown 38 innings, so the hope remains for a better 2027. Best-case, Nieves can develop into a ground ball machine who gets whiffs with his slider. He’s also got a changeup and cutter that bring down his relief risk a tad.

One of the top Los Angeles Dodgers international signings for this class will be Ezequiel Melbourne, a 16-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic.

Fluid, easy actions at shortstop and projects to stick at the position. Switch-hitter who is young for the class. More on… pic.twitter.com/RCt1KcTc2q

— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 12, 2026

Ezeqiuel Melburne was another higher-profile international signing in this year’s class. His statistical debut in the DSL wasn’t great, but the 17-year-old infielder is highly projectable on both sides of the ball.

The switch-hitting shortstop has power to grow into and displays good infield actions that might have a chance to keep him at shortstop even with a 6-foot-3 frame. He’ll be heading stateside soon and will look to keep adding strength.

Aidan Foeller’s 6 strikeouts from yesterday’s near 5 perfect innings.

If you don’t know who Foeller is yet, you will.

He’s really good.

In 2026 ⬇️

35.2 IP
2.52 ERA
47 ERA- ⬅️
3.56 FIP
34.5 K% ⬅️
9.2 BB%
25.4 K-BB% ⬅️
12.6 SwStr% pic.twitter.com/e7ikVUjnVK

— Austin Brubaker (@AustinBru99) June 19, 2026

Aidan Foeller’s profile stands out with a double-plus fastball that he commands well to mow through hitters. The 24-year-old gets down the mound well, so the extension box is checked, and the heater also gets great spin and carry out of a three-quarters slot. Unfortunately, the former 11th round pick doesn’t have a standout secondary, so his future might be limited to the bullpen.

Big day today for #Dodgers RHP prospect Patrick Copen:

6.2 IP / 5 H / 1 ER / 1 BB / 10 K

Copen has a 0.59 ERA in August pic.twitter.com/Faau6Oob6P

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) August 17, 2026

Patrick Copen has repeated Double-A this year with largely the same positives and flaws as 2025. The 24-year-old has three plus pitches in his fastball, slider and cutter but has struggled to throw strikes since reaching Tulsa. He’s Rule 5 eligible this December and the Dodgers still have him operating as a starter, where he’s been good in the second half so far, but they may be forced to accelerate his timeline with a relief move sometime soon.

This pitch by Sterling Patick last night ⬇️

5 IP
58 Pitches
7 Ks
0 BBs
9 Whiffs
7 GBs

Patick with an excellent start to 2026! pic.twitter.com/tcczEsWhtH

— Austin Brubaker (@AustinBru99) April 4, 2026

Sterling Patick is a local product from West Covina now in his third full year in the system. His numbers in High-A this year aren’t great, but the 21-year-old southpaw has time to make adjustments. His five-pitch mix looks like one of a No. 4 or 5 starter if his fastball plays well enough and he throws enough strikes.

Jaron Elkins legged out a standup triple for his sixth of the season, and it drove in a run in the process pic.twitter.com/UKly3nw2NL

— DodgersLite (@dodgerslite) July 26, 2026

Jaron Elkins is a former standout high school running back with tools out the wazoo. He’s a slightly better than plus runner with a plus arm and plus raw power. The 21-year-old made a jump in his contact ability this year which translated to much more Single-A production, but his hit tool is still likely to hold him back long-term. That said, with 63 stolen bases last year, paired with his raw power and athleticism, he has a super fun profile.

Check out the DEFENSE from Noah Miller. Been tellin' ya for a while that he's not a good defender, and that, instead, he's ELITE with glove, and don't believe me. Watch for yourself, and listen to Josh Sucho, the PxP for Albuquerque. Yes, the OTHER teams' announcer had THIS to… pic.twitter.com/4vnZU4ot13

— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) May 18, 2026

A former minor league Gold Glove winner, Noah Miller is a glove-first shortstop who has spent this full year in Triple-A. The switch-hitting 23-year-old has a plus glove but a bat that has always brought questions of if it can hit big league arms. Even with his defense, it looks more likely that Miller finds himself as a defensive replacement than an everyday player in MLB.

#Dodgers 1B/3B prospect Easton Shelton hit his 31st homer, moving into the MiLB home run lead pic.twitter.com/JXUiGXmgDr

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) July 25, 2026

Easton Shelton has been arguably the single contact quality king of MiLB this year. His 35 home runs easily lead the system, and his exit velocities have been absolutely nutty all year. The caveat: His contact skills are extremely poor, with a crazy 33% in-zone whiff rate in Single-A. He’s likely limited to first base and DH, so he is hard to rank highly for now, but if he finds an adjustment to make more contact he would jump quickly up the list.

Oliver González pic.twitter.com/B6pkg9mwgw

— Follow @bnicklaus7 (@burce_media) April 5, 2026

Oliver Gonzalez showed good stuff in the DSL last year as part of his first full season in the organization. He flashed a plus-or-better fastball with a pair of good secondaries. Unfortunately, the 19-year-old has spent the entire 2026 season on the injured list, so we’ll likely be waiting until 2027 to see him pitching stateside.

Luis Carias might be my pick for the underrated pitcher of the year pic.twitter.com/tEjR9GZEjf

— DodgersLite (@dodgerslite) April 3, 2026

Luis Carias has had a rough 2026 in Single-A, walking more than 20% of the batters he’s faced working mostly in multi-inning relief. He’s still flashed a good fastball/slider duo, but his command regression has been sudden and immense. That’ll have to change next year for him to stay on this list.

Joendry Vargas pulled a no-doubter into the woods to tie the game. This was his 10th home run of the season pic.twitter.com/niG0ihE9PS

— DodgersLite (@dodgerslite) August 14, 2026

Joendry Vargas had a rough couple years of health coming into 2026, and thankfully, he’s been able to stay on the field this year. He’s performed okay, but there are real red flags as he chases way too much and struggles with contact. Vargas has a cannon arm and is a surefire left-side infielder, but it’s a cloudy offensive future for the top signee in the Dodgers’ 2023 international class.

#Dodgers INF prospect Nico Perez is having a great season for High-A Great Lakes

He homered twice today, bringing his season totals to a .285 AVG and .894 OPS pic.twitter.com/NOnPI9C21V

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) August 12, 2026

A 2022 prep draftee, Nico Perez didn’t make his first official rookie ball appearance until 2024. He’s had a strong year in High-A this season, using idealized launch angles to hit for power despite a 5-foot-10 frame. The 21-year-old has plus plate discipline and could be a decent offensive contributor at second base if everything continues to click. He’s technically Rule 5 eligible this offseason, but I’d imagine next year is when that starts to become a factor if he performs in Double-A.

Jacob Frost turned in a fantastic piggyback(ish) outing for Great Lakes in relief today.
3.2IP | 1H | 0R| 7Ks | 2BB

Dude is electric, and when he's in the zone, today happens. And…WILL keep happening, his stuff is THAT good. Frost got the W to move to 6-1 and lowered his ERA… pic.twitter.com/Rygsy6EHXm

— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) May 17, 2026

The Dodgers made Jacob Frost a cheap 10th round senior-sign last year, but he’s looked good in his first season as a pro. The Kansas State alumni has flashed a plus curveball with an average heater. He hasn’t been in the zone a ton, but the whiff has made him an intriguing prospect as a potential depth starter or relief option.

Fellow #Dodgers infielder Reyli Mariano showed he could put the barrel on velocity as well. pic.twitter.com/ugMzsTIm8h

— Josh Norris 🐻 (@jnorris427) March 21, 2026

Built like an Ozzie Albies starter pack, Reyli Mariano is a switch-hitting infielder who stumbled a bit in his transition to Arizona. The 19-year-old has average contact skills and a slim chance to stick at shortstop. If he puts on some more muscle, he could rebound in Single-A.

Logan Wagner tied Chris Newell for 2nd all time in Loons home runs at 30.

Wags is 1 home run away from tying Andy Pages for the most home runs in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/O9iwl6C0z6

— Austin Brubaker (@AustinBru99) July 23, 2026

Logan Wagner has gotten a ton more aggressive this year, attacking both in-zone and sharply increasing his chase rate, and it’s translated to a lot more damage. The switch-hitting infielder has plus raw power and will see if his new approach will translate with his move to Double-A. Wagner has split time at third base and second base but is a below-average defender.

Tremendous start for Russell Sandefer, so much so that HC Kevin O'Sullivan said he could push for a weekend starting role:

"If he keeps throwing the ball the way he did tonight, he is going to have to force our hand."

More here: https://t.co/yWdMz5grrdpic.twitter.com/XtZwDv2wrU

— Cam Parker (@camparker25) March 18, 2026

The Dodgers’ top pitcher draftee of this year’s class, Sandefer comes from Florida with a four-pitch mix. His fastball was a contact-managing sinker in college; the Dodgers could roll with that, or employ a strategy like they did with Root shifting him to a four-seam shape. Sandefer’s slider and changeup stand out as his best secondaries, and he commands the arsenal decently well.

Been mentioned some on the site, but Luis Gamez (19, Mexico INTL Signing) is killing it. Made his way stateside, has struck out 64 and 43 innings with a 97 MPH fastball and a great breaker but has recently added a split. https://t.co/pq6CTdGp8k pic.twitter.com/hLfzEoau1r

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 20, 2026

Luis Gamez is a 19-year-old undersized right-hander who performed well in Arizona this summer. His fastball runs into the upper-90s with an above-average breaking ball and a splitter that he’s added this year. Gamez is getting his first taste of Single-A down the stretch.

23 year old Dodgers pitching prospect José Rodriguez, from Oaxaca, Mexico, has been dominant in June. He has thrown 9 2/3 innings and struck out 19 with a 2.79 ERA in AAA. Future elite MLB closer. He should make Mexico’s roster at the 2026 WBC in what will be a stacked bullpen pic.twitter.com/5Y9Vh9mZT2

— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) June 22, 2025

José Rodríguez started 2026 with two months on the injured list, but he’s been back in Triple-A since being activated in mid-June. Rodríguez throws his changeup more than anything else, and it’s a great pitch. So is his slider, both releasing from a funky angle thanks to his lanky 6-foot-6 frame. The Oaxaca, Mexico native’s fastball doesn’t play great, so he leans on the secondaries.

Dodgers pop Cody New in 11th, was set for big year with Cal Baptist until suffering UCL tear in first start that required Tommy John; entered the spring as a R2-4 arm pic.twitter.com/a8z3RT78zI

— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) July 12, 2026

The Dodgers took Cody New in the 11th round this year despite the fact that he underwent elbow surgery in March. Before the injury, he was expected to go in the top five rounds, so the Dodgers saw value in taking him later and rehabbing the injury themselves. In 2025 with Cal Baptist, New showed a solid ride-run fastball with four secondaries.

Ronan Kopp…LFG!
Kopp threw a scoreless inning yesterday in relief of Sasaki and has yet to give up a run for the ENTIRE Spring Training, and that spans 7 innings.

Kopp sat 94.9, but, not surprisingly, threw more sliders than he did fastballs. His slider is LEGIT! It changes… pic.twitter.com/6MARr2gxzf

— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) March 24, 2026

The Dodgers protected Ronan Kopp from the Rule 5 Draft last offseason, but this year has been a bit of a trainwreck for him in Triple-A. The 6-foot-7 southpaw has walked more than a batter per inning and hasn’t looked close to ready to help in the major league bullpen. If he goes the full season without coming up, it might be hard to justify keeping Kopp on the 40-man throughout this upcoming offseason.

#Dodgers 3B/1B prospect Jake Gelof hit his 25th home run of the season

He’s second in the system in homers, only trailing Easton Shelton (33) pic.twitter.com/ykW1KMJwMT

— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) August 17, 2026

Jake Gelof was a prolific power hitter at Virginia when the Dodgers took him 60th overall in 2023. He had a bumpy time through the lower minor leagues, but has found his power stroke again this year in Double-A. Gelof still has issues with in-zone whiff, but he has a good feel for lifting the ball and hits it hard when he does connect.

Aemed Nasser (‘26,FL)⬇️

Jumps all over the FB, gets the head out. Direct path to the ball, sends it over the RF wall for a go ahead bomb. #PSCoverage | @aba_hq | @CPCASPORTS | @Aemednasser1 | @OU_Baseball

? https://t.co/0IRBgOKpJR pic.twitter.com/PKB2SGuPdX

— Prospect Select Scout (@PSBaseballScout) February 25, 2026

The Dodgers took Aemed Nasser in the 15th round this year and were able to sign him away from a commitment to Oklahoma. The 18-year-old has twitchy athleticism and a 6-foot-4 frame with plenty of room to add strength. Adding him in the later rounds was a big win for this year’s draft class.