10 Dodgers Prospects Who Caught My Eye in 2026
LAB REPORTS
The Dodgers continue to develop one of baseball's deepest farm systems. This list contains a couple popular names and a few lesser known ones. I dive into some interesting things that make these players stand out, discuss their profiles, and talk about what their biggest questions still are.
Josue De Paula
Age: 21
Position: RF/LF
Level: AA
Why he stands out:
Josue De Paula is the clear top prospect in the Dodgers system, and his 2026 performance is the reason he has risen into top-10 prospect territory across all of baseball. For an organization that has consistently developed impact major league talent, De Paula now looks like the best offensive prospect the Dodgers have had since Corey Seager.
What has changed in 2026:
• Swinging Miss Percentage in the 90th percentile
• Walking at nearly the same rate he strikes out
• Improved launch angle
• More pull-side air contact
• Reduced in-zone whiff rate
• Raw power increasingly translating into game power
The profile:
His calling cards remain his advanced hit tool and elite plate discipline. Now that the power is starting to emerge as he fills out his 6-foot-3 frame, De Paula is beginning to look less like a high-on-base corner bat and more like a future middle-of-the-order run producer.
Biggest question:
The defense remains the primary concern. De Paula can look clunky in the outfield and still appears to be growing into his body. His plus arm gives him a chance to remain in a corner outfield spot, though first base remains a possible fallback if the glove does not fully develop.
Bottom line:
At just 21 years old, De Paula is already succeeding against upper-level competition while making meaningful improvements to his offensive profile. His underlying metrics show he's pound for pound one of the most "well rounded" hitters in all of the minor leagues. He is no longer simply one of the Dodgers' best prospects—he has become one of the best prospects in all of baseball.
Mike Sirota
Age: 23 (birthday was June 16th)
Position: OF
Level: AA
Why he stands out:
Mike Sirota has done nothing but dominate at every level of competition he has faced, and the most impressive part is that it has not stopped as he has moved up the ladder. Since joining the Dodgers organization, Sirota has continued to hit, continued to control the zone, and continued to produce loud contact against better pitching.
What stands out:
• 58(!!!) game on base streak (at time of writing)
• 97th percentile Average Exit Velocity(!)
• 95th percentile xwOBA (!)
• Elite chase rate
• Below-average zone whiff despite elite power metrics
• Consistently produces hard contact in the air to all fields. So many line drives!
The profile:
The Dodgers wanted Sirota out of high school, and after a college slump caused a first-round talent to fall to 87th overall, he now looks every bit like a player who should have gone in the first 15 picks of his draft class. Sirota’s offensive profile is built around elite quality of contact and a polished approach. Nearly everything he hits seems to come off the bat hard, whether it is a pulled line drive or a ball slashed the other way. What makes the profile especially exciting is that the impact contact does not come with major swing-and-miss concerns. He avoids chasing, controls the zone, and still produces some of the loudest contact in the system.
Why the acquisition matters:
The Dodgers acquired Sirota from Cincinnati in the Gavin Lux trade, a deal that continues to look better for Los Angeles. Not only did the Dodgers land a hitter who has performed at every stop, but they also acquired a competitive balance draft pick that eventually turned into another player who will appear later on this list. For a season and a half of a middling Gavin Lux, the return is starting to look pretty ridiculous.
Bottom line:
In case you couldn't tell, I'm very impressed with Mike Sirota. Alongside Josue De Paula, Sirota looks like another Dodgers hitter who may not be long for Double-A. With production hovering around a 1.000 OPS and underlying metrics that fully support the breakout, Sirota is showing the kind of hit tool, impact contact, defense, and baserunning value that could make him a future major league contributor and great value player who accumulates WAR for his team.
Eduardo Quintero
Age: 20
Position: CF
Level: A+
Why he stands out:
Eduardo Quintero may not have the loudest statistical profile in the Dodgers system, but he remains one of the most exciting long-term position player prospects in the organization. Signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent in January 2023 for just under $300,000, Quintero has become another example of the organization's ability to identify and develop athletic talent before the rest of baseball catches up.
What stands out:
• Signed as a catcher before converting to center field
• .281 AVG, .775 OPS, and 29 stolen bases as a 20-year-old in A+
• Improved chase decisions and pitch selection
• Athletic center field profile with impact speed
• Growing power and improving defensive value
• One of the more well-rounded athletes in the system
The profile:
The Dodgers quickly recognized that Quintero's athleticism and speed were too valuable to keep behind the plate, converting him to center field shortly after signing him. The move has paid off. As he climbed through the system, scouts began to fall in love with the combination of athleticism, offensive upside, defensive projection, and baserunning ability.
While there is still some swing-and-miss in the zone, the Dodgers have helped him become more selective against pitches he cannot damage. His underlying contact quality remains encouraging, and the stolen base totals continue to climb. What makes Quintero intriguing is that there are no glaring weaknesses in the profile. He has a chance to contribute with the bat, glove, and legs.
When you watch Quintero track down fly balls in center field, you can't help but wonder if you're looking at a potential future successor to Andy Pages in the middle of the Dodgers outfield someday. Some evaluators who are high on Quintero seem drawn to the Jackson Chourio type of outfield profile. Both are right-handed hitters with a similar size and build, and both offer athleticism, speed, defensive value, and the ability to impact the game in multiple ways. That does not mean Quintero has Chourio's ceiling, but with Quintero's steady improvements, it is easy to understand why that type of profile occasionally comes to mind.
Biggest question:
The biggest question is how much power ultimately develops and if he can keep the swing and miss concerns at bay. The athleticism, defense, and speed are easy to see, but continued offensive growth will determine whether he becomes a solid everyday player, role player, or something more.
Bottom line:
Quintero's season may not jump off the page the same way Josue De Paula's or Mike Sirota's does, but he remains one of the most well-rounded prospects in the system. At just 20 years old, he is holding his own in A+ while continuing to develop across every facet of the game. He also feels like exactly the type of prospect rebuilding teams would be asking the Dodgers about if his name ever became available in trade discussions.
Chase Harlan
Age: 19
Position: 3B
Level: A
Why he stands out:
The Dodgers selected Chase Harlan with the 98th overall pick in the 2024 draft and went more than $1 million over slot to convince him to skip college and begin his professional career. Less than two years later, that investment is starting to look like a smart one.
What stands out:
• .335 AVG
• 10 HR
• 1.025 OPS
• Just 19 years old
• Raw power increasingly showing up in games
• One of the better offensive performances in the system
The profile:
Harlan is a physical specimen and a gifted athlete whose offensive game has taken off since entering the Dodgers organization. The Dodgers have worked extensively with him in their hitting labs, and to Harlan's credit, he has been extremely receptive to making adjustments and experimenting with changes to his swing. The result has been a player who is now consistently driving the baseball with authority and beginning to access the raw power that made him such an intriguing draft prospect.
The numbers largely speak for themselves. Harlan is hitting for average, hitting for power, and producing at a level that demands attention from prospect evaluators.
Biggest question:
The defense remains a work in progress. While the athleticism is obvious, the actions at third base are not always as polished as the bat. Offensively, the next challenge will come as he climbs the ladder and faces pitchers capable of exploiting chase tendencies and swing-and-miss concerns. The power is real, but higher-level pitching will determine how much of it ultimately plays.
Bottom line:
At 19 years old, Harlan is doing exactly what you want to see from a young power prospect. The combination of youth, physicality, coachability, and production gives him a chance to emerge as one of the bigger breakout names in the Dodgers system. The next few promotions will tell us whether this is simply a hot season or the beginning of something much bigger.v(Chase Harlan was just promoted on June 22nd to A+)
Zach Root
Age: 22
Position: LHP
Level: A+
Why he stands out:
When the Dodgers selected Zach Root with the 40th overall pick in the 2025 draft, the reaction was mixed. Many evaluators viewed Root as a relatively safe college arm with a lower ceiling than some of the other pitchers available. Concerns centered around a below-average fastball shape, a funky left-handed delivery, and questions about whether his mechanics would hold up against upper-level hitters.
What stands out:
• 2.73 ERA through his first 33 innings
• 47 strikeouts in 33 innings
• Improved fastball shape and velocity
• Plus breaking ball mix
• Advanced command for his age
• Has flashed dominant outings where he simply overmatches A+ hitters
The profile:
The Dodgers appeared to believe they could unlock more from Root than what was visible on draft day. Since entering the organization, he has leaned more heavily on a four-seam fastball rather than the two-seamer/sinker shape he frequently used as an amateur. The result has been a fastball that plays better at the top of the strike zone while allowing him to maximize the quality of his already impressive breaking pitches.
When Root is on, he looks nearly unhittable. Hitters are frequently frozen by his command, and his ability to pair dotted fastballs with big breaking stuff that he can land for strikes creates uncomfortable at-bats for hitters on both sides of the plate. Perhaps most encouragingly, the velocity gains appear sustainable, as he has maintained his stuff deep into outings rather than showing early fatigue.
Biggest question:
Root has still experienced some ups and downs this season, and evaluators will want to see the improved fastball continue to hold up as he climbs the ladder. The question is no longer whether the breaking stuff is good enough. It is whether the fastball can continue to play as a legitimate weapon against better hitters and allow his good command to overmatch batters.
Bottom line:
Root entered professional baseball as a pitcher many viewed as having a limited ceiling. Less than a year later, he (and the Dodgers) are already making that evaluation look questionable. The combination of improved stuff, strong command, and an organization known for maximizing pitching talent makes Root one of the more fascinating arms in the system to monitor moving forward.
Cam Leiter
Age: 22
Position: RHP
Level: A
Why he stands out:
When the Dodgers selected Cam Leiter in the second round of the 2025 draft, they were betting on talent over recent results. Leiter missed the entire 2025 college season following shoulder surgery, but Los Angeles still handed him a full slot bonus and trusted their player development staff to help him get back on track.
What stands out:
• 2.60 ERA through his first 27.2 professional innings
• 46 strikeouts in 27.2 innings
• 28.2% K-BB%
• Fastball velocity continuing to return following injury
• Fastball and slider both looking better than ever
• Comes from one of baseball’s most recognizable pitching families
The profile:
Leiter has always possessed the ingredients teams look for in a high-upside pitching prospect. At 6-foot-5, he creates difficult angles for hitters while showing the ability to miss bats with multiple pitches. As his recovery has progressed, the stuff has started to resemble the pitcher scouts were excited about before the injury. The fastball has regained life, the slider continues to miss bats, and there is growing optimism that he could eventually feature three or more above-average pitches.
The Dodgers clearly believed there was more here than the public stat line suggested. Rather than focusing on the missed season, they focused on the traits, the pedigree, and the potential upside once healthy.
Biggest question:
The obvious question is durability. The talent has never really been the concern, but the Dodgers have been managing his arm carefully so far as he works back from shoulder surgery. This is one of those prospects where patience is going to be required, because the organization is clearly not trying to rush the workload.
Bottom line:
Leiter is still in the early stages of his professional career, but the indicators are encouraging. With his velocity returning, elite strikeout numbers, and the potential for multiple plus pitches, he remains one of the more intriguing pitching prospects in the system. If the health holds, his ceiling is significantly higher than what most second-round pitching prospects offer.
Charles "Chuck" Davalan
Age: 22
Position: OF
Level: A+
Why he stands out:
Charles Davalan may not have the loudest tools on this list, but he might have one of the safest offensive profiles. Selected by the Dodgers with the Competitive Balance Round A pick acquired in the Gavin Lux trade, Davalan has done exactly what the organization hoped he would do: hit, get on base, and show the type of advanced approach that often forces its way up the ladder.
What stands out:
• .276 AVG and .852 OPS
• More walks than strikeouts
• 14 stolen bases
• .286 BABIP despite strong overall production
• Advanced strike zone control
• Developing versatility in the outfield
The profile:
Davalan's game is built around polish rather than raw tools. While some prospects grab headlines with elite power or eye-popping athleticism, Davalan wins with feel for hitting and a mature offensive approach. His ability to control the strike zone is especially impressive, as he is currently walking significantly more often than he strikes out.
That level of plate discipline, combined with his strong bat-to-ball skills, suggests he may already be too advanced for A+ pitching. What's even more encouraging is that his .286 BABIP hints there could be room for positive regression in the batting average department despite an already respectable .276 mark.
Defensively, the Dodgers have challenged Davalan by giving him opportunities in center field after he spent much of his amateur career playing left field. The transition has come with some expected growing pains, but there have also been encouraging signs. Several evaluators believe he may ultimately have enough feel and instincts to handle center field, which would significantly increase his overall value.
Biggest question:
The question is less about whether Davalan can hit and more about how much impact ultimately comes with the bat. The hit tool appears legitimate, but continued development in center field and any additional power growth will determine whether he profiles as an everyday regular or more of a valuable complementary piece.
Bottom line:
Davalan may not be the flashiest prospect in the system, but he consistently does the things that translate as players move up the ladder. Between the advanced plate discipline, strong bat-to-ball skills, and ongoing work in center field, he looks like a player with a very realistic path to the major leagues. With the Dodgers' Double-A outfield already crowded, a promotion is never guaranteed, but it would not be surprising to see Davalan earn a taste of AA before the season is over.
Easton Shelton
Age: 20
Position: 1B
Level: A
Why he stands out:
Easton Shelton is not a guy who was on many radars coming into this year. He wasn't a highschool or college draft pick. He wasn't a hyped international signing. In fact, he wasn't drafted at all. Shelton signed with the Dodgers as an undrafted free agent and has spent his first full professional season making teams wonder if they missed on one of the biggest power bats in his class.
What stands out:
• Leading the California League in home runs by a wide margin
• 21 HR in just 229 at-bats
• .993 OPS
• 64 RBI
• 113+ mph (confirmed) exit velocity in game home run power
• 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame built for power
The profile:
If you've followed Shelton for a while, the power is not surprising. Even before turning pro, videos of him launching baseballs into orbit alongside Eric Sim made the rounds online. The raw power has always been real. Now it is showing up in games.
The Dodgers saw enough in the bat to give Shelton an opportunity, and he has rewarded that faith by becoming one of the most productive power hitters in Low-A. While many of the home runs have come against mistakes left over the plate, part of being a successful hitter is punishing mistakes when they happen. Shelton has done that as well as anyone in the league this season.
Biggest question:
The strikeout rate. There really isn't another answer besides criticism of his overall value upside due to 1B/DH defense projection. Shelton's game has always been built around power, but the swing-and-miss remains the biggest obstacle between where he is today and where he hopes to go. There have certainly been successful major leaguers built around a "swing hard, miss hard" approach, but improving his contact rates will be critical as he faces more advanced pitching. To his credit, the strikeout issues have slightly improved as the season has progressed, giving some optimism that further adjustments are possible.
Bottom line:
For an undrafted free agent, you simply could not ask for much more from a 20-year-old in his first full professional season. The power is VERY real, the production is impossible to ignore, and the physical tools fit the profile of a future power-hitting first baseman. The next step is proving he can make enough contact against better pitching to give that natural power a chance to play at the highest level.
Christian Zazueta
Age: 21
Position: RHP
Level: A+ (Reported to be promoted to AA June 21st)
Why he stands out:
Christian Zazueta had a slower start to the season, but he has looked much more like a rising prospect recently. After posting a 4.76 ERA in April and a 4.43 ERA in May, Zazueta has started looking much more like the pitching prospect Dodgers fans would hope for. Through his June starts, he owns a 1.59 ERA and recently tossed five perfect innings in A+.
What stands out:
• Recently threw 5 perfect innings in A+
• 34.7% strikeout rate
• 28.4% K-BB%
• 0.97 WHIP
• 1.59 ERA in June starts
• Contact against him has looked pretty weak
• Plus fastball and plus changeup traits
The profile:
Zazueta’s appeal comes from a starter’s mix with real bat-missing ability. His fastball and changeup both look like legitimate weapons, and when he is around the zone, hitters have not been able to square him up consistently. The strikeout numbers are impressive, but equally encouraging is his 28.4% K-BB%, an elite indicator that reflects both his bat-missing ability and improving command.
Why the acquisition matters:
The Dodgers acquired Zazueta in the trade that sent Caleb Ferguson to the Yankees, a move that felt relatively insignificant at the time. Instead, Los Angeles landed an 18-year-old pitching prospect who is now beginning to show signs of developing into a legitimate arm worth monitoring.
Bottom line:
Zazueta is not one of the biggest names in the system yet, but the recent trend is difficult to ignore. If his improving results, bat-missing ability, and contact suppression continue as he moves through the system, he could find himself climbing prospect rankings in the near future or knocking on the door of a promotion (Zazueta was reportedly promoted to AA June 21st)
Kendall George
Age: 21
Position: CF
Level: AA
Why he stands out:
Kendall George is one of the most unique prospects in the Dodgers system because his carrying tool is so obvious and so extreme yet not one that carries people to stardom. While most prospects are trying to impact games through power, George impacts games through speed. Elite speed. Every time he dribbles a ground ball into play let alone reaches base, the entire defense suddenly becomes uncomfortable and error prone. Few players in professional baseball can change a game as quickly as George can with his legs.
What stands out:
• .333 batting average
• .814 OPS despite zero home runs
• 26 stolen bases in just 174 at-bats
• Elite speed that would likely rank among the fastest in MLB today
• Strong on-base skills despite a complete lack of power
• Former first-round pick (36th overall)
The profile:
The obvious contemporary comparison is Chandler Simpson, though George is actually performing slightly better than Simpson did at the same age and level. Like Simpson, George's game revolves around putting pressure on opponents from the moment he reaches base. The stolen bases are impressive enough on their own, but the true value comes from everything else that speed creates: rushed throws, distracted pitchers, defensive mistakes, and extra bases that most players simply cannot take.
Despite having absolutely no power in his offensive profile, George still managed to post an impressive .814 OPS in Double-A thanks to his elite batting average and ability to get on base. The Dodgers of course wanted to see what power they could help develop, but mostly knew exactly what they were drafting when they selected him in the first round. Rather than chasing another power bat, they invested in a rare athletic trait they could never hope to teach someone. A trait that can change games and create value in ways traditional statistics sometimes fail to capture.
Biggest question:
The obvious question is the injury. In case you hadn't heard, George suffered a freak patellar tendon injury after awkwardly jumping out of the way of a bat-retrieving dog that was running towards him during a game. Fortunately, surgery was not required, but his recovery and ability to maintain the offensive progress he showed in 2026 will be worth monitoring closely. Long term, the lack of power will always put pressure on the hit tool and on-base skills to carry the profile.
Bottom line:
George will never be a middle-of-the-order hitter, but that was never the appeal. The Dodgers drafted him because game-changing speed is a weapon, and George possesses as much of it as almost anyone in professional baseball. If he returns healthy and continues developing offensively, he has a realistic path to becoming a valuable major league contributor, whether as an everyday player, platoon option, or high-leverage weapon capable of stealing 70 or more bases in a season.
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