Top 30 Prospects by yours truly
The trade deadline is coming up, so after perusing Baseball America / Rotowire / Prospects Live / MLB Pipeline and watching multiple minor league games over the last two years here is my own top thirty Dodger Prospects. Some of these folk will get traded in the next five days. I would place De Paula/Quintero/Morales/Zazueta in the I’m not trading them unless Mason Miller is available.
Skubal is of course the big name and also a free agent so putting together a deal for a guy who has won the last two American League CYA and is also a free agent is simply throwing darts but I like throwing baseball darts. To get Skubal I expect the Dodgers will indeed part with a major league rotation piece, thus keeping the actual prospect part of the deal more in the top 50-100 range. If they don’t deal Sheehan/Wrobo, then yes, I could see Zazueta being part of the package. With Snell / Glasnow coming back the easy argument is that the Dodgers don’t need to overpay for Skubal but I think what many are missing when they make that argument, is that the Brewers can easily match any Dodger package if they want to. We might be salivating over the current Dodger farm system, but the Brewers are loaded from top to bottom along with a major league rotation piece like Logan Henderson. Even with the best record in baseball, I don’t think any Dodger fan feels this is a powerhouse Dodger team and facing the likes of Miz and Skubal would be quite the gauntlet, if the Brewers were to acquire Skubal. Thus, my own package is clearly an overpay for the best pitcher to be available at the deadline in quite some time.
What do the Tigers need? They would want a major league rotation piece to replace Skubal, they don’t need a CF with Max Clark ready to step into that void as early as August so I’m not including Sirota or Quintero in the deal. Gleyber Torres is a one year player, so they could use a 2nd baseman or SS if they move McConigle to 2nd base after this year. 3rd base could use an upgrade. The corner outfield spots could use an upgrade. They could use another future starter or current bullpen help. Their top prospect is a CF in Max Clark, followed by SS Bryce Rainer and catcher Josue Briceno. Those are basically all they have when it comes to top 100 prospects so they could use an influx of new talent.
No one will like what I’m suggesting, but if you want to win a Championship you might want one of the best pitchers in baseball on your side instead of against you. Sheehan or Wrobo. Wrobo would be the better sell to the Tiger franchise base because of his fantastic first half, but Sheehan still touches all the bases you’d want in a good young controllable starter. Sorry Hope fans, Zyhir Hope will follow Sheehan/Wrobo. The Tigers would want De Paula they would have to settle for Hope who should be bashing home runs for the Tigers by this time next year. You’d think that would be enough but I don’t think it would be. Chase Harlan might seal the deal. If we didn’t have Morales, I wouldn’t think of trading Harlan but we do and besides, Muncy has decided he’s going to play forever anyway.
So Step One:
Trade James Tibbs III to the Miami Marlins for Braxton Garrett
Trade Wrobo or Sheehan / Zyhir Hope / Chase Harlan / Braxton Garrett for two time CYA winner Tarik Skubal
Instead of six top ten outfielders the Dodgers will only have four in De Paula / Quintero / Sirota / Davalan. If the Brewers really want Skubal they can beat this. Will they? I hope they do, it would make October even more special.
Onto the top 30 list:
| Rank | Name | Notes |
| 1 | Josue De Paula | Closest thing to Yordan since the Dodgers traded Yordan |
| 2 | Eduardo Quintero | All five tools, will be a future Dodger CF |
| 3 | Mike Siiota | All Five tools, only reason below Quintero is age and historical health |
| 4 | Emil Morales | Possible future Dodger 3rd Baseman |
| 5 | Christian Zazueta | Best pitcher in the system. Might be best prospect pitchers in the NL. Yup, just might be. |
| 6 | Zyhir Hope | Would be many teams top outfield prospect |
| 7 | Charles Davalan | Would be many teams top outfield prospect. Incredible steal last year. |
| 8 | Zach Root | Only above River Ryan because of health but he’s another 2025 draft steal. |
| 9 | James Tibbs | Would be “some” teams top outfield prospect |
| 10 | Bo Lowrance | Another Dodger draft day steal? Many think so |
| 11 | Aidan West | Don’t sleep on him, my new favorite low A prospect |
| 12 | Chase Harlan | Possible future Dodger 3rd Baseman and a fantastic trade chip. |
| 13 | River Ryan | Best stuff in system, but to many injuries to have him any higher. |
| 14 | Ching-Hsien Ko | Big power |
| 15 | Kellon Lindsey | Like to see him healthy for a full year but finally putting together a season that makes you remember why he was a number one pick. |
| 16 | Jackson Ferris | Back end starter at this point, don’t think he ever gets more than a handful of Dodger starts. |
| 17 | Kendall George | A better Chandler Simpson or Scott? Heck, if he can just be Chandler Simpson that has value. |
| 18 | Brady Smith | Like him alot, good to see him in A+ now. |
| 19 | Zach Ehrard | Alex Call in AAA, should have a Major league career. If not traded this summer, could be on the Dodger roster next spring. |
| 20 | Nicolas Perez | Not sure yet, but was having a breakout season until he got hurt |
| 21 | Cam Leiter | |
| 22 | Joendry Vargas | Not writing him off yet, but getting close. At one time Quintero and Vargas were neck and neck. One blossomed, one stagnated, but still young enough to get it together. |
| 23 | Adam Serwinoski | back end starter or bullpen |
| 24 | Noah Miller | Will be someone’s utility infielder if the glove is as advertised. They basically already have the White Sox’s Billy Carlson. |
| 25 | Elijah Hainline | Will be someone’s utility infielder, but with probably more bat than Miller but not as much glove. |
| 26 | Russell Sandefer | 2026 Draft – Just going by others on this, have zero insight on him. |
| 27 | Mairoshendrick Martinus | I like this guy, no one else seems to. Repeating Low A but still young, power, speed, plays everywhere. I’ve seen him alot on TV, always seems to be doing something well. |
| 28 | Tyler Gough | Just a dartboard shot here but I like where my dart landed. |
| 29 | Easton Shelton | Billy Ashley step on up. His K rate is his Achilles heal. No one thinks he’s a real prospect but is there anyone more fun to watch right now in the system? I say no. |
| 30 | Ryan Ward | Yeah – No way he and Tibbs survive this deadline. |
I don’t have Elkins in my top 30. He could be, he’s done everything he needs to do with Ontario and finally got the bump to the Loons. He struck out four times in his first game for the Loons. That is the problem, he’s an incredible athlete, speed, power, can play CF, but the K rate……….. Elkins is only 21, so he’s not old for the Loons, I would not be surprised if he can’t have an Outman type of career. I mean if James Outman can still find a Major League job, I imagine that Elkins will also eventually find one.
I wish Copen was on this list. He’s someone I’m rooting for but just not seeing it. Payton Martin is another and actually had his best game of the year right after I created the list. Marten is still very young, and in AA, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he handles the 2nd half of this season.
Do you have a favorite prospect who wasn’t mentioned?
Shohei Ohtani gives the fans what they paid to see
Whenever you go to a show you are almost guaranteed to get what you paid for. Concerts, Broadway, Comedy Clubs, you usually get what you expected to get when you decided to go out.
Sports are a whole different world as anyone who paid out for the 2017 World Series Game Seven can attest to.
However at Dodger Stadium, you are getting exactly what you paid for and more when it comes to the Ultimate Showman – Shohei Ohtani.
Below is what Shohei Ohtani has done in each at-bat over the last two games he’s played at Dodger Stadium.
Game Four 2025 NLCS:
1st At-Bat Home Run
2nd At – Bat – Walk
3rd At – Bat – Home run over the Pavillion
4th At-Bat – Home Run
Game three 2025 World Series:
1st At-Bat – double down the line
2nd At-Bat – home run into the bullpen
3rd At-Bat – Double to left center – first hit to the opposite field since Sept 20th
4th At-Bat – Home run to left Center
IBB
IBB
IBB
IBB
IBB
13 straight at-bats with either a walk, double, home runs.
It is just insane.
Los Angeles Dodgers World Series Game Score Leaderboard
Yoshinobu Yamamoto leaps into fifth place among the LAD World Series games cores with his brilliant deconstruction of the vaunted Toronto Blue Jays in Game Two of the 2025 World Series. It was the best game by a Dodger starter in a World Series since Orel Hershiser shut out the Oakland A’s in Game Two of the 1988 Series.
Baseball Reference Link to Data
| Rk | Player | Result | IP | H | ER | BB | SO |
| 1 | Don Drysdale | W, 1-0 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 2 | Sandy Koufax | W, 7-0 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| 3 | Sandy Koufax | W, 2-0 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| 4 | Orel Hershiser | W, 6-0 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 5 | Yoshinobu Yamamoto | W, 5-1 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 6 | Walker Buehler | W, 3-2 (18) | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 7 | Burt Hooton | W, 6-1 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 8 | Sandy Koufax | W, 2-1 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 9 | Sandy Koufax | W, 5-2 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 15 |
| 10 | Don Drysdale | W, 7-2 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| 11 | Clayton Kershaw | W, 3-1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 12 | Claude Osteen | W, 4-0 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 13 | Orel Hershiser | W, 5-2 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
| 14 | Jerry Reuss | W, 2-1 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
2024 & 2025 World Champion Dodgers All-Time Post Season Home Run Leaderboard
The 2025 World Champion Dodgers scored their last three runs via solo home runs. Max Muncy got the Dodgers within one run (4 – 3) with his solo blast in the 8th. Miguel Rojas hit the shocking tying home run in the 9th with one out, and Will Smith put the Dodgers in front with clutch home run in the top of the 11th.
| Player | Total | NLWCS | NLDS | NLCS | WS |
| Max Muncy | 16 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Corey Seager | 13 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Justin Turner | 13 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Duke Snider | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Steve Garvey | 10 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| Kiké Hernández | 11 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Cody Bellinger | 9 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Chris Taylor | 9 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Shohei Ohtani | 11 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Joc Pederson | 9 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Will Smith | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Mookie Betts | 7 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Teoscar Hernandez | 8 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Ron Cey | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Davey Lopes | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Freddie Freeman | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Dusty Baker | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Andrre Ethier | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Manny Ramirez | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Yasiel Puig | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Steve Yeager | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Gil Hodges | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Oh My Ohtani
Some games are not like other games. Last night, the baseball world witnessed a game in which
the following things happened
In the top of the first a player struck out the side
In the bottom of the first a player hit a lead off home run
In the bottom of the fourth a player hit a ball four hundred and sixty six feet that cleared the Dodger RF pavilion
In the top of the 7th a player completed six innings of shutout ball against the team with the best record in baseball in a game four must win, striking out ten in the process
In the bottom of the seventh a player hit a home run
The fact that it was the same player for each of these events is why it might be considered not only the greatest individual feat in postseason history but simply the greatest individual feat in the history of baseball.
https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani-nlcs-game-4-facts-and-figures
https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani-hits-three-home-runs-strikes-out-10-in-nlcs-game-4
Yamamoto tells Blake Snell to hold his Saki
Just yesterday we talked about the greatest Dodger NLCS pitching performances and Yoshinobu Yamamoto decided he wanted his name on the Dodger NLCS leaderboard. Pitching the first complete game in a Dodger NLCS since Orel Hershiser in game seven of the 1988 NLCS against the Mets, Yamamoto not only stamped his name on the NLCS leaderboard but now has the 3rd highest game score in Dodger NLCS history.
Below is the Dodger NLCS Game Score Leaderboard:
Player GmSc Gm Date Opp Result IP H ER BB SO Blake Snell 90 1 2025-10-13 MIL W 2-1 8.0 1 0 0 10 Don Sutton 84 1 1974-10-05 PIT W 3-0 9.0 4 0 1 6 Yoshinobu Yamamoto 83 2 2025-10-14 MIL W 5-1 9.0 3 1 1 7 Tommy John 81 2 1978-10-05 PHI W 4-0 9.0 4 0 2 4 Orel Hershiser 80 7 1988-10-12 NYM W 6-0 9.0 5 0 2 5 Clayton Kershaw 78 2 2016-10-16 CHC W 1-0 7.0 2 0 1 6 Don Sutton 78 4 1974-10-09 PIT W 12-1 8.0 3 1 1 7 Jack Flaherty 77 1 2024-10-13 NYM W 9-0 7.0 2 0 2 6 Fernando Valenzuela 77 5 1981-10-19 MON W 2-1 8.2 3 1 3 6 Zack Greinke 75 1 2013-10-11 STL L 2-3 (13) 8.0 4 2 1 10 Tommy John 75 4 1977-10-08 PHI W 4-1 9.0 7 1 2 8 Clayton Kershaw 74 5 2018-10-17 MIL W 5-2 7.0 3 1 2 9 Hyun Jin Ryu 74 3 2013-10-14 STL W 3-0 7.0 3 0 1 4 Rich Hill 72 3 2016-10-18 CHC W 6-0 6.0 2 0 2 6 Vicente Padilla 71 2 2009-10-16 PHI W 2-1 7.1 4 1 1 6 Clayton Kershaw 70 2 2013-10-12 STL L 0-1 6.0 2 0 1 5 Don Sutton 69 2 1977-10-05 PHI W 7-1 9.0 9 1 0 4 Tim Belcher 68 2 1988-10-05 NYM W 6-3 8.1 5 3 3 10 Burt Hooton 68 4 1981-10-17 MON W 7-1 7.1 5 0 3 5 Jerry Reuss 68 1 1983-10-04 PHI L 0-1 8.0 5 1 3 3 Orel Hershiser 66 1 1988-10-04 NYM L 2-3 8.1 7 2 1 6 Clayton Kershaw 66 5 2017-10-19 CHC W 11-1 6.0 3 1 1 5 Burt Hooton 65 1 1981-10-13 MON W 5-1 7.1 6 0 3 2 Fernando Valenzuela 65 2 1983-10-05 PHI W 4-1 8.0 7 1 4 5 Fernando Valenzuela 65 5 1985-10-14 STL L 2-3 8.0 4 2 8 7
Provided by Stathead.com: Found with Stathead. See Full Results.
Generated 10/15/2025.
Did Blake Snell just pitch the greatest NLCS game in Dodger history?
Blake Snell takes over first place with the top Los Angeles Dodger NLCS game score with his masterpiece last night on 10/13/25. It had been fifty-one years since a Dodger had pitched that great a game score but was it the greatest NLCS Dodger game ever?Snell, Sutton, John all pitched brilliantly but they were either games one or two. Orel Hershiser pitched his brilliant game in game seven against the Mets to close out one of the greatest NLCS series in history. Don Sutton pitched two fantastic games giving the Dodgers the wins in game one and game 4 in the 1974 NLCS. You won’t find anyone else on this list that pitched two brilliant games (game score over 75) in the same series. Fernando closed out the Expos in 1981 when the series was only five games. The strangest name on on this list might be Vincene Padilla. I’d think everyone else on the list is a household Dodger name. Hey, it was just a year ago that Jack Flaherty shocked everyone with his game one NLCS gem. For my money, my top game list would go like this:
1 – Orel on 10/12/88 to close out Mets in game 7
2 – Fernando on 10/19/81 to close out Montreal in game 5
3 – Don Sutton’s brilliant 1974 NLCS series in game one and game 4
4 – Blake Snell for sheer dominance in an era where getting 24 outs is a rarity
5 – Clayton Kershaw for dominating the eventual World Champion Cubs in Game 2 / 2016
Player GmSc SeriesV Gm Date Opp Result IP H ER BB SO Blake Snell 90 NLCS 1 2025-10-13 MIL W 2-1 8.0 1 0 0 10 Don Sutton 84 NLCS 1 1974-10-05 PIT W 3-0 9.0 4 0 1 6 Tommy John 81 NLCS 2 1978-10-05 PHI W 4-0 9.0 4 0 2 4 Orel Hershiser 80 NLCS 7 1988-10-12 NYM W 6-0 9.0 5 0 2 5 Clayton Kershaw 78 NLCS 2 2016-10-16 CHC W 1-0 7.0 2 0 1 6 Don Sutton 78 NLCS 4 1974-10-09 PIT W 12-1 8.0 3 1 1 7 Jack Flaherty 77 NLCS 1 2024-10-13 NYM W 9-0 7.0 2 0 2 6 Fernando Valenzuela 77 NLCS 5 1981-10-19 MON W 2-1 8.2 3 1 3 6 Zack Greinke 75 NLCS 1 2013-10-11 STL L 2-3 (13) 8.0 4 2 1 10 Tommy John 75 NLCS 4 1977-10-08 PHI W 4-1 9.0 7 1 2 8 Clayton Kershaw 74 NLCS 5 2018-10-17 MIL W 5-2 7.0 3 1 2 9 Hyun Jin Ryu 74 NLCS 3 2013-10-14 STL W 3-0 7.0 3 0 1 4 Rich Hill 72 NLCS 3 2016-10-18 CHC W 6-0 6.0 2 0 2 6 Vicente Padilla 71 NLCS 2 2009-10-16 PHI W 2-1 7.1 4 1 1 6 Clayton Kershaw 70 NLCS 2 2013-10-12 STL L 0-1 6.0 2 0 1 5 Don Sutton 69 NLCS 2 1977-10-05 PHI W 7-1 9.0 9 1 0 4 Tim Belcher 68 NLCS 2 1988-10-05 NYM W 6-3 8.1 5 3 3 10 Burt Hooton 68 NLCS 4 1981-10-17 MON W 7-1 7.1 5 0 3 5 Jerry Reuss 68 NLCS 1 1983-10-04 PHI L 0-1 8.0 5 1 3 3 Orel Hershiser 66 NLCS 1 1988-10-04 NYM L 2-3 8.1 7 2 1 6 Clayton Kershaw 66 NLCS 5 2017-10-19 CHC W 11-1 6.0 3 1 1 5 Burt Hooton 65 NLCS 1 1981-10-13 MON W 5-1 7.1 6 0 3 2 Fernando Valenzuela 65 NLCS 2 1983-10-05 PHI W 4-1 8.0 7 1 4 5 Fernando Valenzuela 65 NLCS 5 1985-10-14 STL L 2-3 8.0 4 2 8 7Provided by Stathead.com: Found with Stathead. See Full Results.
Generated 10/14/2025.
Blake & Blake bookend the Dodgers to 2025 NLCS game one victory
Game one of the 2025 NLCS was a game that will be talked about forever in both Dodger and Brewer lore.
You had Blake Snell throwing the greatest NLCS game in Dodger history
You had the craziest baserunning blunder by the Dodgers since the 2005 NYM fiasco.
You had Freddie Freeman hit an actual moon scraping fly ball home run
You had Kiké Hernández trying and failing to bunt only to drop a single into right field
You had Blake Treinen close the game with pure luck
Let’s starts with Blake Snell who throw the greatest game of great career. Snell finished his eight innings facing only the minimum 24 batters giving up one hit and quickly erasing that runner by picking him off. He struck out 10, he walked zero. He was fabulous. His game score will tell just how fabulous. These are the best non World Series Postseason Los Angeles Dodger game scores:
Player GmSc Series Gm Date Opp Result IP H ER BB SO Blake Snell 90 NLCS 1 2025-10-13 MIL W 2-1 8.0 1 0 0 10 Don Sutton 84 NLCS 1 1974-10-05 PIT W 3-0 9.0 4 0 1 6 Tommy John 81 NLCS 2 1978-10-05 PHI W 4-0 9.0 4 0 2 4 Clayton Kershaw 81 NLDS 2 2018-10-05 ATL W 3-0 8.0 2 0 0 3 Orel Hershiser 80 NLCS 7 1988-10-12 NYM W 6-0 9.0 5 0 2 5
While Blake Snell does have a higher game score than the 2020 Wildcard game by Clayton Kershaw, I would still rank the Kershaw game above what Snell did yesterday for one large reason. Kershaw did it in a Wild Card format where you lose you go home, while Snell did it in a game one of a best of seven series. Over 50 years ago, Don Sutton shut out the Pirates in the 1974 Game One NLCS when that was the only postseason series before the World Series. Until, last night, that game was greatest NLCS pitched game in the Dodger history, but I think you can safely slide Blake Snell into that number one seat now because the margin of victory was one run, and the Dodgers needed all of those eight near perfect innings to beat the Brewers.
I’m not going to compare any of these games against games pitched in the World Series because the World Series is the World Series. So even though Blake Snell does have the highest game score in Dodger postgame history, I’m not going to pretend that an NLCS game one can be measured against pitching a game seven in 1965 against the Twins, or shutting out the vaunted 1963 Yankee’s.
As a Dodger fan I never thought I’d see a postseason blunder that could compare to two Dodgers being thrown out at home plate against the NYM, but the 2025 Dodgers surprised me and all their fans by doubling down by somehow having a bases loaded ball bounce off the fence and have their runners forced out at both home and 3rd base. Luckily, the Dodgers won this game, unlike the loss to the NYM.
Freddie Freeman got the Dodgers on the board with a high high high fly ball to right field that stayed up in the air long enough for many Dodger fans to chug a whole beer before it landed in the seats to give the Dodgers a 1 – 0 lead.
Kiké Hernández continues to make his case as the greatest LAD postseason hitter. This time it seemed like a very simple single to right field but there was nothing simple about it. Kiké tried to bunt and failed. Twice. Down in the count 0 -2 against one of the better relief pitchers in baseball he somehow managed to punch a single into right field which was the key hit to getting that second run which would turn into the winning margin.
Blake Snell pitched just about a perfect eight innings, but Dave Roberts went to his new closer Roki Sasaki who struggled for the first time in the 2025 postseason. Outside of one hard hit ball by Bauers which might have been caught if the Dodgers had been playing a normal no doubles defense in the 9th he wasn’t really bad. Sasaki appeared to be squeezed on the walk to Collins for ball four but nonetheless, Sasaki departed with two out and two on. I would venture a guess that less than one percent of Dodger fans were happy that Roberts turned to the 2024 Postseason hero Blake Treinen to get that last out. Blake walkd Contreras after getting a head of him 0 – 2 to load the bases. He also got in front of Brice Turang 1 – 2 before throwing ball two right at the back leg of Turang who is now being mimicked all over Los Angeles for kicking his leg out of the way instead of letting his leg give the Brewers a tie game. None of this would have mattered if Brice had then delivered, but instead, Brice swung at a pitch so high, that it would have been a ball even to Aaron Judge.
Of course, this game will only be remembered if the Dodgers win the series, next summer we can get the Dodger Bobblehead showing Brice Turang doing everything he could do to avoid getting hit by a pitch that would have tied a NLCS game one in the bottom of the 9th.
Such is postseason baseball.
About that pitching depth
The famous line “You can never have enough pitching” was once again proven true for the Dodgers in 2024. The rotation appeared loaded, and along with the pitchers in AAA, and other key pieces eventually coming off the IL you didn’t think this would be a season in which Brent Honeywell would be making the last start before the All-Star game.
In January I wrote about the Dodgers pitching depth and oops, that depth sure got tested.
In January of 24, the Dodgers had an expected major league rotation of: Tyler Glasnow / Yoshinobu Yamamoto / Bobby Miller / James Paxton / Emmet Sheehan With Walker Buehler supposed to ready sometime in early May. Gavin Stone/Landan Knack/Kyle Hurt/Nick Frasso/River Ryan were all supposed to be minor league depth. Clayton Kershaw was being talked about hopefully being ready in late July or early August. That is twelve pitchers and you’d have thought that would have been enough depth that you don’t end the first half having to start Brent Honeywell who you just picked up on waivers.
What went wrong?
So much, so let’s start at the beginning.
Nick Frasso, one of the Dodgers top pitching prospects and expected to be ready to contribute in 2024 was the first to fall and is now out for the year with TJ surgery.
Emmet Sheehan who was supposed to be part of the rotation until Walker Buehler was ready never pitched in spring training, and eventually he also had surgery and is out for the year.
River Ryan who was probably last in the depth chart, is also shut down during Spring Training, but at least he didn’t need surgery but he won’t pick up a ball again until late June.
Still you had Gavin Stone step in the breach so the Dodgers entered the season with the rotation of Tyler Glasnow / Yoshinobu Yamamoto / Bobby Miller / James Paxton / Gavin Stone. Not so bad, and that worked for the month of April.
Meanwhile Kyle Hurt who was supposed to be a depth piece in the rotation or a solid bullpen piece got hurt and hasn’t pitched in months.
Bobby Miller has a brilliant 2024 debut game but struggles after that and hits the IL but it isn’t expected to be serious.
Not a problem as Walker Buehler is ready to jump into the rotation. Except the Walker Buehler who jumps back into the rotation is broken and after a few horrible starts get shuts down. Walker flies off to Florida to try to figure out what is wrong but at this point you can’t count on him for 2024 anymore.
The Dodgers roll into Yankee Stadium and in front of a national audience Yamamoto pitches the game of the year for him. Throwing harder than he has all year he shuts down the formidable Yankee lineup. Everything is looking good………..except that will be the last start Yamamoto will make until sometime in August.
So, now you have Tyler Glasnow / James Paxton / Gavin Stone / Landon Knack in the rotation and Bobby Miller shows up off the IL. Except, just like Walker Buehler, Bobby Miller is horrible and they shut him down.
Shockingly, among all these injures, James Paxton is still standing, but just before the All-Star break, Tyler Glasnow goes on the IL which is how Justin Wrobleski joins the rotation. Wrobleski started the season in AA and you’d been hard pressed to think he might be needed, but here he was making multiple starts in July just before the break.
So, among the original twelve pitchers counted on for the 2024 season, the Dodgers had exactly four still standing at the break, and not the four you really wanted. James Paxton, Gavin Stone, Landon Knack, and Justin Wrobleski. Which is why Brent Honeywell made the last start before the All-Star break.
That all sounds real bleak and that the Dodgers need some pitchers. However, there is some real good news in all of this. Gavin Stone pitched like an ace for most the first half. He faltered a bit in has last few starts, but he had a real All-Star case and had some of the best games of any Dodger starter. Gavin basically gave the Dodgers what they expected Bobby Miller to do. Landon Knack has had to plug the rotation holes, and he did just fine, usually giving the Dodgers a chance to win his starts. Justin Wrobleski shouldn’t be making starts in 2024 but when pressed into service he gave the Dodgers some good work and looks like he can be a very nice future rotation piece. River Ryan finally started throwing in June and by the All-Star game had made enough re-hab starts that he’s ready for his Dodger debut following the All-Star game. River is currently considered the Dodgers top pitching prospect so he could give the rotation a nice shot in the arm.
As the Dodgers head into the 2nd half, things might get better. Tyler Glasnow will come off the IL and pitch in the first series out of the All-Star game. Clayton Kershaw after some early issues in his rebab is scheduled to make one more rehab start this Friday and join the rotation next week. Without any trades the Dodgers will enter the second half with a rotation of Tyler Glasnow / Gavin Stone / Clayton Kershaw / James Paxton and one of River Ryan/Landon Knack/Justin Wrobleski.
The Dodgers still have three major question marks for Yamamoto / Miller / Buehler. Yamamoto has started throwing and will start a rehab in a few weeks and is expected to be able to join the rotation in August. Yet, we don’t know how his arm will respond once he starts throwing from a mound so you can’t really count on him. Bobby Miller was bad when he came off the IL. Was it mechanical or physical? Hopefully mechanical and they can get him straightened out, but again, no guarantee so still a question mark. No one even knows what Walker is doing in Florida to figure out why his velocity was lacking when he tried to pitch earlier this year. He’s the biggest question mark.
Because of those three question marks, the Dodgers will undoubtedly add a pitcher or two before the trading deadline.
Pitching / Pitching / Pitching
The Dodger rotation at the end of the 2023 season was basically Kershaw / Miller / Lynn and possibly Pepiot if they needed that fourth starter. Which was one broken pitcher, a rookie, a home run prone fill in, and another rookie. Now, that wasn’t how they started 2023, the expectation for the 2023 rotation was Urias / Kershaw / May / Gonsolin / Thor. Only Kershaw was still standing in October but it was not the Kershaw who pitched great during the summer but a broken Kershaw who immediately had surgery on his shoulder after the season ended. Urias was in his walk year but was never they guy who was one of the best pitchers from 2021 – 2023. Instead he was average, and eventually his time with the Dodgers came to a thudding end with the news of his domestic abuse charges. Both May and Gonsolin succumbed to arm injuries, while Thor was about as bad as any Dodger rotation pitcher has ever been.
Yet, the 2023 team survived all of that rotation turmoil to win 100 games again. With the signing of James Paxton (Big Maple) the 2024 rotation looks to be in its final shape with only one big name still missing. Clayton Kershaw has yet to sign a deal for 2024, but I and most people expect Kershaw to sign with the Dodgers once they can put players on the 60 man IL so that they Dodgers don’t have give up a spot on the 40 man roster. That would look like this, May and Gonsolin go on the 60 Man IL, thus freeing up two spots on the 40 man roster. The Dodgers sign Kershaw and immediately he goes on the 60 Man IL, thus still leaving two 40 man roster spots available.
Thus, the Dodgers 2024 is looking like this as we get ready for the kick off of the 2024 season.
Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Bobby Miller, James Paxton, and Emmet Sheehan. Walker Buehler is expected to be ready for the rotation in May. You can see spots starts being doled out to Gavin Stone or Landon Knack if anyone comes out of spring training ailing. Dustin May is expected back around Aug 1st, and we don’t really know when Kershaw might be ready if at all in 2024. Gonsolin and Ohtani are expected to miss the whole season.
If and when Glasnow / Yamamoto / Buehler are all in the rotation together, you will be hard pressed to find a more talented threesome in any rotation. If they can make it to October, the sky is the limit for the Dodgers 2024 season.
But, it gets better. 2024 is just the prelude to what could be an amazing rotation in 2025 even if Walker Buehler walks. Both Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan will be ready for big roles in 2025, and who isn’t excited about seeing Shohei Ohtani make his rotational debut? You bring back the big arms of Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto you already have a formidable rotation. Yet, it could be even better if the reports are true that Japanese super star Rōki Sasaki wants to join Yamamoto and Ohtani in Los Angeles. Plus, you still have Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin in your hip pocket as they come back from their surgeries, and of course you still have the bevy of kids who will all be knocking hard at the door by the spring of 2025. Look at the possible choices for the 2025 rotation if they let Walker go but sign Sasaki.
Shohei Ohtani, Rōki Sasaki, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan
Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Gavin Stone, Nick Frasso, Kyle Hurt, River Ryan, and Landon Knack
Along with the wild card that is Clayton Kershaw if he signs up for 2025
Or they don’t sign Sasaki but do extend Walker Buehler
Shohei Ohtani, Walker Buehler, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan
Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Gavin Stone, Nick Frasso, Kyle Hurt, River Ryan, and Landon Knack
Along with the wild card that is Clayton Kershaw if he signs up for 2025
Or they don’t extend Buehler or sign Sasaki. Not as sexy but still plenty of potential, and more realistic room for Kershaw if wants to pitch for the Dodgers in 2025.
Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan, Clayton Kershaw
Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Gavin Stone, Nick Frasso, Kyle Hurt, River Ryan, and Landon Knack
I’m a huge fan of Emmet Sheehan, and expect him to be a force for the Dodger rotation as he battles Bobby Miller for the title of best young Dodger pitcher. If health permits, those two should hold down two rotation spots, leaving little room for any of the other prospects outside of some spot starts when needed.
Thus, I fully expect that Stone/Knack to be traded sometime between 2/2024 and 8/2025 while hoping that Ryan and Hurt become part of a very formidable Dodger bullpen. Hurt as soon as 2024, and Ryan in 2025. Frasso is still a depth piece but as we head into 2026 more pieces should be coming into play.
In 2026, Jackson Ferris the key piece of the Michael Busch trade should be ready to tip his toes into the show. Justin Wrobleski and Maddux Bruns should also be where Frasso/Knack/Hurt are right now. It is possible that all three of the talented lefties flame out, but I’d expect at least two of those three to start knocking on the door. Ferris is the most talented, and Bruns the least likely but I do like Wrobleski a lot. Ronan Kopp is another big arm pitcher, but most see him as a bullpen piece so for now, I’ll just expect him to join Hurt/Ryan in the bullpen by 2026, if not sooner.
The Dodgers pipeline isn’t done yet. By 2027 Payton Martin and Hyun-Seok Jang could be the next big things in Dodger blue.
Other pitchers of note in the pipeline are tean-agers Jesus Tillero, Brady Smith and some other system arms such as Peter Huebeck, Hyun-il Choi, Jermino Rosario, Ben Casparius, Jared Karros, and just returning from TJ surgery Edgardo Henriquez.
Outside of 4th round pick Brady Smith we have yet to get a look at what they drafted in 2023, and in the last few years, they always have a nice surprise from their domestic drafts. Justin Chambers was acquired for Bryan Hudson winter when the Dodgers needed to clear a space on the 40 man roster. The last two times the Dodgers made a deal like that they traded Mitch White for Nick Frasso and Matt Beatty for River Ryan. Both of those pitchers were much older than Chambers, but they are now both top ten Dodger pitching prospects, so I wouldn’t discount what they might have picked up in Justin Chambers.
Anyway you cut it, unless the Dodgers incur multiple catastrophic injuries, the pitching should be in good hands for the next few years.
Dodgers, Yesterday and Today 