Prospect Scouting Reports For Every Dodgers Player Ahead Of 2025 World Series

Will Smith, C

• How acquired: Drafted by Dodgers in first round of 2016 MLB draft.
• Highest rank: No. 95 on 2019 Top 100 Prospects
• What We Said: 2019 Dodgers Top 30 Scouting Report

Track Record: An infielder by trade, Smith impressed with his ability to catch Kyle Funkhouser, Zack Burdi and other triple-digit flamethrowers at Louisville and signed with the Dodgers for $1,772,500 as the 32nd overall pick in 2016. He immediately showed the same impressive catching ability as a pro, guiding Walker Buehler, Yadier Alvarez, Dennis Santana and other high-octane arms through the Dodgers system. Despite missing a month with a deep thumb bone bruise, Smith hit a career-high 20 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A in 2018, all while splitting his time between catcher (49 games) and third base (43) so fellow catching prospect Keibert Ruiz could also get reps behind the plate.

Scouting Report: Smith’s best asset is his athleticism. He has quick feet, soft hands and an above-average arm he can get to from multiple angles, making him a plus defensive catcher and above-average defender at third base. Smith was a contact hitter in college, but the Dodgers reworked his swing to generate more loft. An adjustment to get ready a tick earlier revealed above-average power in 2018, although his uphill swing yields more swings and misses than expected given his solid bat speed, hands, direction and approach and drains his ability to hit for average.

The Future: The Dodgers brought Smith to Los Angeles at the end of 2018 to observe how big leaguer catchers prepare. His major league debut is on the horizon in 2019.

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Ben Rortvedt, C

• How acquired: Traded from Rays to Dodgers with RHP Paul Gervase and LHP Adam Serwinowski for C Hunter Feduccia.
• Highest rank: Twins No. 22 prospect in 2019
• What We Said: 2019 Twins Top 30 Scouting Report

Scouting Report: Fiery and competitive, he shows a plus arm and continues to polish his footwork, blocking and game-calling. Most importantly, after some initial resistance, he worked on his pitch framing with minor league catching coordinator Tanner Swanson. A below-average runner with a wiry, compact frame, Rortvedt shows tremendous flexibility and is more than athletic enough for the position. At the plate, however, he has struggled to decide what type of hitter he wants to be. While his default mode tends to be spraying line drives with a short, quick swing, the Twins’ development staff wants to see him sacrifice some contact to get to more of his pull-side power. He handled a promotion to high Class A Fort Myers, helping the Miracle to a Florida State League championship.

The Future: Defense will get Rortvedt to the majors, but he’ll need to hit to stay there long-term.

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Freddie Freeman, 1B

• How acquired: Signed by Dodgers as free agent, March 2022.
• Highest rank: No. 17 prospects on 2011 Top 100
• What We Said: 2011 Braves Top 30 Scouting Report

The 78th overall pick in the 2007 draft, Freeman has been among the youngest players in every league he has played. He was the second-youngest starter in the Triple-A International League in 2010, when he was tabbed the circuit’s rookie of the year. He led the IL in hits (147) and total bases (240), and managers rated him the loop’s best defensive first baseman.

Freeman has a smooth, aggressive swing from the left side. He possesses raw power that should generate 20-plus homers annually in the major leagues. Freeman has good plate coverage with a patient approach that leads to consistent contact. He thrives in RBI situations and wants the bat in his hand with the game on the line.

Defensively, Freeman has quick feet and above-average range at first base. He does all the little things well around the bag and he even has a cannon for an arm. Though not a blazer, he runs well for his size and shows outstanding instincts on the basepaths. Though his success was limited during his September callup, Freeman swatted his first big league homer against Roy Halladay. He may have an up-and-down 2011 season at the plate, but that roller-coaster ride should come as Atlanta’s starting first baseman at age 21.

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Tommy Edman, 2B

• How acquired: In three-team trade, the Dodgers sent 3B Miguel Vargas, SS Alexander Albertus, SS Jeral Perez and cash considerations to the White Sox; the White Sox traded RHP Erick Fedde, OF Tommy Pham and cash considerations to the Cardinals; the White Sox traded RHP Michael Kopech to the Dodgers and the Cardinals traded SS Tommy Edman and RHP Oliver Gonzalez to the Dodgers.
• Highest rank: Cardinals No. 12 prospect in 2019
• What We Said: 2018 Cardinals Top 30 Scouting Report

Edman started three years at Stanford and finished his junior year batting third for the Cardinal despite his 5-foot-10, 180-pound frame. An academic All-American who majored in math and computational science, Edman attracted the Cardinals with his smarts, makeup and performance track record and was drafted in the sixth round in 2016, signing for $236,400.

Edman’s best asset is his defense at shortstop, and he rode that three levels to finish his first full season at Double-A Springfield. He is instinctive at shortstop and has solid tools as well, with soft hands, good actions, solid-average range and average arm strength. He is an average runner with the athleticism and mobility for the position. The switch-hitting Edman doesn’t strike out much and makes contact at a solid rate from both sides of the plate, He shows the propensity to drive balls into the gaps and leg out doubles and triples, especially batting righthanded.

Lacking a plus tool, Edman profiles as a utility infielder but has a long track record of playing above expectations. He will either return to Double-A Springfield or open at Triple-A Memphis depending on his camp performance.

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Mookie Betts, SS

• How acquired:  Dodgers traded CF Alex Verdugo, C Connor Wong and SS Jeter Downs to Red Sox for RF Mookie Betts, LHP David Price and cash, Dec. 2020.
• Highest rank: No. 75 on 2014 Top 100
• What We Said: 2014 Red Sox Top 30 Scouting Report

No one more significantly redefined his prospect status in the system in 2013 quite like Betts. Drafted as a multi-sport athlete (baseball, basketball, bowling), he showed a line-drive swing, good strike-zone judgment, speed and no power (zero homers) at short-season Lowell in 2012. That changed in 2013, when he showed improved patience and drove the ball for extra bases with startling frequency, first at low Class A Greenville then at high Class A Salem. Betts joined eight other minor leaguers with at least 15 homers and 30 steals in 2013.

Though he has a sizable leg kick, Betts has the body control and athleticism to maintain balance, the quick hands to let the ball travel and the hand-eye coordination and bat speed to produce extra-base power. He shows a penchant for highlight-reel defensive plays at second base, and he has the athleticism and range for the Red Sox to consider shortstop and center field as possibilities. Betts’ arm is better suited for the right side of the infield. He pairs above-average speed with good reads to steal bases at an excellent rate.

With Dustin Pedroia signed for eight years, Betts’ future with organization, barring a trade, is most likely at any position but the one he’s playing. He appears headed for Double-A Portland in 2014.

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Max Muncy, 3B

• How acquired: Signed as MiLB free agent, April 2017
• Highest rank: No. 7 on A’s 2014 Top 30
• What We Said: 2016 A’s Top 30 Scouting Report

Muncy reached the big leagues for the first time in 2015, but his results suffered as he tried to adjust to life as a part-time player in Oakland. He held his own in May, hitting .256/.353/.488 in the one month he got semi-regular at-bats while Ike Davis was sidelined.

Muncy’s a natural hitter. His ability to control the strike zone is as good as anyone’s in the system and is his biggest asset, along with his hitting lefthanded. His short swing is tailored for his gap-to-gap approach, and while he’s never been projected as a significant power threat, the A’s would nonetheless would like him to swing more authoritatively when given the chance. He has just 14 homers over the past two seasons combined since hitting 25, mostly at hitter-friendly high Class A Stockton, in 2013. His ability to play either corner infield position boosts his chances of staying on a roster, particularly in versatility-conscious Oakland. His athleticism and throwing arm are solid enough to get by at third, but he’s better suited for first base.

Muncy tried to get some more at-bats by playing winter ball in Mexico, but a pulled oblique muscle curtailed that plan after just seven games, leaving him to head to spring training back on the bubble for a big league roster spot.

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Hyeseong Kim, 2B

• How acquired: Signed by Dodgers as international free agent, 2025
• Highest rank: Ineligible to rank
• What We Said: International Professional Scouting Report

Track Record: A decorated high school player, Kim made his KBO debut at 18 years old and spent three seasons as Ha-Seong Kim’s double-play partner with Nexen and Kiwoom. Once Ha-Seong Kim signed with the Padres, Hye-Seong Kim took his place as Korea’s most coveted infielder. Kim hit .304/.364/.403 over eight seasons, stole 211 bases and became the league’s first player to win a Gold Glove award at both shortstop and second base. He hit .326 with a career-high 11 home runs and 75 RBIs for Kiwoom in 2024 and was posted after the season.

Scouting Report: Kim is a pure lefthanded hitter with a natural feel for contact. He is a twitchy athlete with a quick, compact swing and drives balls up through the middle of the field with surprising strength. He recognizes pitches, manages the strike zone and consistently barrels balls with his excellent hand-eye coordination. Kim’s swing isn’t conducive for loft and he doesn’t project to be a home run threat, but he hits enough hard line drives to be an above-average hitter. Kim is a plus-plus runner and efficient base-stealer who was successful on 85% of his stolen base attempts in the KBO. He has the speed and instincts to steal 30-plus bases annually, although he could stand to be more aggressive. Kim is a quick, athletic defender at second base who ranges well to both sides and has smooth footwork on double-play turns. He has experience playing shortstop, but his below-average arm strength and bouts of throwing inaccuracy make him better suited for second base.

The Future: Kim projects to be a solid, everyday second baseman who hits for average, steals bases and plays above-average defense. Like most Korean players, he’ll need time to adjust to major league velocity before reaching his potential.

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Miguel Rojas, INF

• How acquired: Marlins traded SS Miguel Rojas to Los Angeles Dodgers for SS Jacob Amaya, Jan. 2023.
• Highest rank: No. 17 on Reds’ 2011 Top 30
• What We Said: Reds 2010 Top 30 Scouting Reports

When Omar Vizquel was growing up, he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Dave Concepcion. Now Rojas is part of the new generation of young Venezuelan shortstops trying to emulate Vizquel. His defense draws some comparisons to Vizquel’s.

Rojas’ hands are the best in the organization and some of the best scouts have seen in recent years. He has excellent hand-eye coordination and the kind of fluidity that can’t be taught. Rojas manages to scoop and throw in one easy motion. He makes very few errors for a young shortstop and was the easy choice for managers as the best defensive shortstop in the Midwest League last season. His arm is a tick below average but that doesn’t prevent him from making plays. He’s an extremely hard worker who’s a leader in the field. There are questions about Rojas’ bat, and he never had hit better than .231 in any of his first three pro seasons. He did show significant improvement in 2009, batting .311/.357/.261 after the all-star break. Rojas handles the bat well and makes consistent contact, but he has very little power and a slight frame. Pitchers don’t fear him enough to give him many walks, and he’s an average runner who isn’t a big basestealing threat.

If he can show any offensive ability, his glove is good enough for him to make the big leagues. He’ll move up to high Class A this season.

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Alex Call, OF

• How acquired: Nationals traded RF Alex Call to Dodgers for RHP Sean Paul Liñan and RHP Eriq Swan, July 2025.
• Highest rank: No. 15 on White Sox 2017 Top 30
• What We Said: 2018 White Sox Top 30 Prospects

After Call hit .353/.425/.530 in three seasons at Ball State, the White Sox took him in the third round of the 2016 draft and signed him for $719,100. His first full season was limited to 38 games at low Class A Kannapolis (and another 13 rehabbing in the Rookie-level Arizona League) because of an intercostal strain and a small fracture to one of his ribs. To make up for lost time he participated in fall instructional league in both Arizona and in the Dominican Republic.

Call is a well-rounded player who doesn’t have a plus tool, but doesn’t have anything below-average, either. When healthy, Call’s smooth swing allows him to hit for average with a little bit of power. He’s a tick above-average runner, though he’s slowed a little bit as he gained strength. He has average range in the outfield and an above-average arm, though those inside the organization believe he’s likely to land in left field.

It was a lost season for Call, who could get back on track with a strong year at high Class A Winston-Salem. Call projects as an extra outfielder in the majors but could be more if he hits like he always has.

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Teoscar Hernandez, OF

• How acquired: Signed as free agent, Jan. 2024.
• Highest rank: No. 7 on Astros 2017 Top 30
• What We Said: 2014 Astros Top 30 Prospect Report

Hernandez may not have a plus tool on his scouting report, but with average grades across the board he fits the description some scouts use as a “cheap five-tool player.”

A potentially average hitter with average power, Hernandez can pull the ball for home runs, but he is equally comfortable spraying the ball around the field. As he’s filled out, he’s lost some of his once above-average speed, but he’s gained strength in return. Hernandez has solid bat speed, but he struck out nearly a quarter of the time at low Class A Quad Cities in 2013, in part because he took too many called strike threes. His arm is a tick-above-average and could work in right field, though he’s better suited for left.

As a solid-if-unspectacular, righthanded hitter who doesn’t have enough glove to project in center, Hernandez doesn’t fit the prototype for the corner outfielder, but his hitting ability and feel for the game give him a chance to exceed expectations. He’ll head to high Class A Lancaster in 2014.

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Enrique Hernandez, INF/OF

• How acquired: Red Sox traded CF Enrique Hernández to Dodgers for RHP Nick Robertson and RHP Justin Hagenman, July 2023.
• Highest rank: Never ranked
• What We Said: 2009 Draft Report

Second baseman Enrique Hernandez played well at the spring’s first showcase, going 4-for-4 and putting himself on the fringes of the top 10 rounds. Hernandez has a short, compact swing with a little bit of pop. Defensively, he has smooth actions, soft hands and a good arm. His body type and defense are similar to Luis Matos, but Hernandez profiles as a better hitter.

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Andy Pages, OF

• How acquired: Signed as international free agent, March 2018.
• Highest rank: No. 3 on Dodgers 2024 Top 30
• What We Said: 2024 Dodgers Top 30 Prospect Report

Track Record: Pages signed with the Dodgers for $300,000 out of Cuba and immediately asserted himself as one of the top power hitters in the minor leagues. He blasted 19 home runs in 63 games as an 18-year-old for Rookie-level Ogden in 2019. He won the 2021 Midwest League MVP award after hitting a Great Lakes franchise-record 31 home runs and finished third in the Texas League with 26 home runs for Double-A Tulsa in 2022. Pages earned a quick promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2023 and was nearing his first big league callup, but he tore his labrum in his left shoulder on a swing May 16 and had season-ending surgery.

Scouting Report: Previously a heavyset slugger, Pages dropped 25 pounds going into last season and improved his athleticism without losing any power. He generates plus power with a fast, uphill swing and sends towering fly balls out to all fields. He frequently clears scoreboards and can hit balls out of any stadium. Pages pulverizes pitches low in the zone, but his swing path creates a hole above his belt that leaves him vulnerable to swings and misses. He is a cerebral hitter who controls the strike zone and makes enough contact to be a below-average hitter even with that vulnerability. He’s particularly strong in clutch situations. Pages ticked up to a fringe-average runner after losing weight and gets good jumps in the outfield. He is an average defender in right field and can play center in a pinch, although he struggles with focus at times. He has plus-plus arm strength but inconsistent accuracy.

The Future: Pages’ power and approach give him a chance to be a low-average, high on-base percentage slugger. He began hitting again in mid October and is on track to be fully ready in time for spring training.

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Justin Dean, OF

• How acquired: Signed as MiLB free agent, Dec. 2024.
• Highest rank: No. 26 on Braves 2020 Top 30
• What We Said: 2020 Braves Top 30 Scouting Report

Track Record: A speedy center fielder out of Lenoir-Rhyne, the Braves signed Dean for $125,000 in the 17th round of the 2018 draft after a college career that saw him hit .367/.467/.532 over three years.

Scouting Report: Voted the best defensive outfielder in the South Atlantic League this season, Dean’s prowess in center field is likely his biggest asset at the moment. He can run it down in the gaps well as a 70-grade runner who also posts 60-grade run times from home to first, and he plays with a lively, infectious energy. Dean uses his speed on the base paths as well, giving him an old school leadoff hitter profile on the surface. Dean could have average raw power in the tank down the line, though it’s mostly pull-oriented at the moment—he hit just one opposite field home run in 2019. He’s undersized, but pound-for-pound is well put together. Dean’s hit tool is still raw, and scouts believe he’s more likely to be a solid fourth outfielder type than a regular because of that.

The Future: If Dean continues to hit at more age-appropriate levels—he was old for the Sally League this season—he’ll climb in the organization thanks to impressive supplemental tools and the ability to handle a premium position. For now, he profiles as a fourth outfielder.

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Shohei Ohtani, DH/RHP

• How acquired: Signed by Dodgers as free agent, Dec. 2023.
• Highest rank: No. 2 on 2018 Top 100
• What We Said: 2018 Angels Top 30 Scouting Report

No player since Bryce Harper has matched the mixture of hype and expectation as Ohtani. With a fastball clocked as high as 102 mph and a demonstrated ability to hit home runs 500 feet in Nippon Professional Baseball, Ohtani became the most sought-after free agent of the 2017 offseason. Ohtani’s star progressively grew in NPB with the Nippon Ham Fighters and reached its high point in 2016, when he went 10-4, 1.86 with 174 strikeouts and 45 walks in 140 innings and, while serving as the designated hitter on days he wasn’t pitching, hitting .322 with 22 home runs, 67 RBIs and a 1.004 OPS. A right ankle injury limited him to just five starts in 2017 and he had surgery in October. Ohtani jumped to the U.S and, with his signing bonus capped as an international amateur, nearly every team pursued him. He chose to sign with the Angels for $2.315 million in early December.

Ohtani’s physical revealed slight damage to his ulnar collateral ligament, but no more than other pitchers have. Ohtani has been called the Japanese Babe Ruth, a gifted athlete so prolific as a hitter and pitcher he would be an All-Star at both. He can hold his fastball at 97-98 mph as a starter, and he dials it up and down from 93-100. His fastball doesn’t have much life and is fairly straight, but when his command is on the raw velocity is enough to draw swings and misses. Ohtani’s best pitch is his forkball. He throws it with the same arm speed and arm slot as his fastball, and the pitch dives two feet into the dirt after starting at the hitters thigh. Ohtani’s slider is a third plus pitch but lacks consistency, and he also has a curveball and changeup. Ohtani has a No. 1 starter’s arsenal, but pitches up in the zone too much at times and can fall in love with his breaking pitches, which leads to losing his feel and bouts of inconsistent command. As a hitter Ohtani packs massive raw power, and he pulverizes anything over the plate to center field or the opposite way to left. He rarely faced inside fastballs in Japan and will have to show he can adjust to them in the majors. Overall Ohtani is a disciplined hitter who knows the strike zone.

Ohtani will immediately slot into the Angels starting rotation, and on his off days will get at-bats as their designated hitter. If everything comes together, he can be a Cy Young Award contender who hits double-digit home runs.

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Anthony Banda, LHP

• How acquired: Traded by Guardians to Dodgers for cash considerations, May 2024.
• Highest rank: No. 88 prospect on 2017 Top 100
• What We Said: 2018 D-backs Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Despite some rough results at Triple-A Reno, Banda reached the big leagues in 2017, throwing well in two starts and struggling in two others before finishing the season in the bullpen as a September callup. Scouts say he continued to flash impressive stuff throughout the season but went through stretches where his command backed up.

Banda has gradually added velocity to his fastball and now sits 93-94 mph and touches 96. His breaking ball and changeup can both be inconsistent but have a chance to be above-average pitches. Scouts thought Banda left too many pitches over the plate in 2017, though pitching at hitter-friendly Reno didn’t help. Some in the organization thought Banda’s continued uptick in velocity might have played a part in his inconsistent command and the occasional lack of effectiveness of his secondary pitches.

Banda showed flashes of mid-rotation potential during his brief time with Arizona and dominated at times in relief. His future remains as a starter, but if the big league rotation remains crowded, he might have to wait for an opportunity.

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Ben Casparius, RHP

• How acquired: Drafted by Dodgers in fifth round of 2021 MLB draft.
• Highest rank: No. 23 on Dodgers 2024 Top 30
• What We Said: Dodgers 2024 Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Scouting Report: As a starter, Casparius used a six-pitch mix which included four-seam, two-seam and cut fastballs as well as a slider, curveball and changeup. In concert, those pitches allowed Casparius to attack hitters up, down, inside and out. Scouts who saw him in the minors noted an athletic but inconsistent delivery. If improved, they believed that more velocity was coming. Those premonitions came through during the season, when he began bringing his heater more consistently into the mid and upper 90s. The Dodgers counted Casparius among the system’s best workers and also cited improved extension in his delivery, though the 5.9 feet he produced with Los Angeles was among the lowest figures in the big leagues.

The Future: Casparius has a taste of the best the major leagues have to offer. He’ll open 2025 with a chance to crack the team’s bullpen. If not, he’ll head back to Triple-A to continue trying to improve his control. His pitch mix and starter’s track record gives him plenty of avenues to the big leagues.

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Jack Dreyer, LHP

• How acquired: Signed as nondrafted free agent, 2020
• Highest rank: No. 473 on 2020 Top 500 Draft Rankings
• What We Said: 2020 Draft Scouting Report

Dreyer missed most of the 2019 season because of a shoulder injury, but was excellent in his four 2020 starts before the coronavirus-mandated shutdown. He was 2-1, 3.12 with 23 strikeouts in 21.2 innings. Dreyer doesn’t have a clear plus pitch, but his slider will flash above-average. His 90-93 mph average fastball has enough oomph to make hitters respect it. His slow curveball is a little big and loopy and his changeup needs further refinement.

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Tyler Glasnow, RHP

• How acquired: Dodgers traded RHP Ryan Pepiot and OF Jonny DeLuca to Rays for RHP Tyler Glasnow, CF Manuel Margot and cash, Dec. 2023.
• Highest rank: No. 14 on 2016 Top 100
• What We Said: 2018 Pirates Top 30 Scouting Report

Glasnow threw just 83-89 mph in high school with an uncoordinated 6-foot-7 frame, but the Pirates saw potential and drafted him in the fifth round of the 2011 draft. He has added strength to his body and became one of the most dominant pitching prospects in the game as he ascended. His trek culminated in his major league debut in 2016.

Glasnow’s added strength gave him outstanding raw stuff, topped by a 92-95 mph fastball that hits 99 and a wipeout curveball. He also throws his changeup at 90 mph, and the pitch is showing signs of being a third plus weapon. He has allowed a career .172 opponent average in 500 minor league innings. Walks, however, have been a major problem for the now 6-foot-8 Glasnow, who like many other tall pitchers has problems repeating his mechanics. He also struggles holding runners because of his slow times to the plate and lack of an effective pickoff move. That weakness was exposed at the major league level. While some have questioned his athleticism, Glasnow answered by posting a video on social media of him dunking a basketball after pulling it between his legs.

He will get a chance to win a rotation spot in spring training but will likely return to Triple-A Indianapolis. He has the ceiling of a No. 1 starter, but many evaluators outside the organization believe his futures lies as a reliever due to his poor control.

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Clayton Kershaw, LHP

• How acquired: Drafted by Dodgers in 1st round of 2006 MLB Draft.
• Highest rank: No. 7 on 2008 Top 100
• What We Said: 2008 Dodgers Top 30 Scouting Report

As an underclassman in high school, Kershaw had the benefit of pitching on high-profile travel teams, but teammates Shawn Tolleson (now at Baylor) and Jordan Walden (Angels) got most of the attention. Kershaw pitched just four innings out of the U.S. junior team’s bullpen at the 2005 Pan American Championships in Mexico, buried at the time behind harder throwers such as Tolleson, Brett Anderson (Athletics) and Josh Thrailkill (Clemson). But it was Kershaw who blossomed into the best high school prospect in the 2006 draft after he gained velocity on his fastball and tightened his curveball. The Tigers were set to take him with the sixth overall pick before Andrew Miller unexpectedly fell in their laps, allowing Kershaw to drop one more spot to the Dodgers. He ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2006 and in the low Class A Midwest League in 2007. He also pitched in the Futures Game and jumped to Double-A Jacksonville a month later in just his first full pro season.

Kershaw pitches off a fastball that rests comfortably at 93-94 mph. He touched 99 a handful of times last summer, including once with Los Angeles general manager Ned Colletti in the stands (the Great Lakes scoreboard posted a reading of 101 on the pitch). Kershaw’s heater has late, riding life with explosive finish at the plate. His 71-77 mph curveball has hard 1-to-7 tilt from his high-three-quarters arm slot. He made strides with his circle changeup during the year, and it too grades as a third plus future offering. He generates his stuff with a loose, clean arm action. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, he has an ideal pitcher’s frame that exudes durability as well as athleticism. He eventually should pitch with above-average command, though he didn’t show it in 2007. Kershaw is a little slow to the plate, but is cognizant of baserunners. He employs a slide-step effectively and has a good pickoff move. His makeup and competitiveness are off the charts, and he’s lauded for his humility off the field.

After Kershaw posted a 54-5 strikeout-walk mark in his pro debut, he failed to maintain his focus and delivery during 2007, which led to erratic command. He’s working on improving the timing of his shoulder tilt. He tends to load his left shoulder late, causing his arm to drag during his follow-through, a correctable flaw. It makes him misfire up in the strike zone, and when he overcompensates, he begins to bury his pitches in the dirt. Because of the exceptional life on his fastball and the fact it gained velocity in 2007, learning to harness it will be an important step. His focus also wavers at times. The shape of his breaking ball is somewhat inconsistent, and he’ll need to continue to work on sharpening his secondary pitches. Kershaw offers a promising combination of front-of-the-rotation stuff and the work ethic to reach his ceiling as an ace. Some in the organization say his stuff is more advanced than Chad Billingsley’s and Jonathan Broxton’s at the same stage of their development. Now he has to apply the polish. He’ll most likely open what could be his last season in the minors in Double-A.

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Roki Sasaki, RHP

• How acquired: Signed as international free agent, Dec. 2024.
• Highest rank: No. 1 prospect on 2025 Top 100
• What We Said: Dodgers 2025 Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: Like most legends, Sasaki’s story begins with tragedy. When he was nine, his father and grandparents were killed by a tsunami caused by the massive Tohoku Earthquake. Sasaki, his mother and two brothers lived in a nursing home before resettling in the small coastal city of Ofunato. Sasaki began playing baseball as an escape and blossomed into the country’s top amateur pitcher. At Ofunato High School, he reached 101 mph to break Shohei Ohtani’s national high school record and earned the nickname “The Monster of the Reiwa Era.” He received further acclaim when he threw a 12-inning complete game with 21 strikeouts on 194 pitches in a regional qualifier for Koshien, Japan’s famed national high school tournament. Chiba Lotte selected Sasaki with the first overall pick in the 2019 Nippon Professional Baseball draft and, cognizant of protecting his arm, sat him during the 2020 season and used him sparingly in 2021. Once Chiba Lotte turned him loose in 2022, Sasaki became an international sensation. At 20 years old, he pitched a perfect game with an NPB-record 19 strikeouts. He threw eight more perfect innings his next start and finished the year with 173 strikeouts, second-most in the Pacific League. He made his U.S. debut at the 2023 World Baseball Classic semifinals against Mexico and averaged 100.5 mph on his fastball, helping lead Japan to the gold medal. Sasaki made only 15 starts in 2023 due to a torn left oblique and 18 starts in 2024 due to shoulder fatigue, but he starred when healthy. He went 10-5, 2.35 with 129 strikeouts and 32 walks in 111 innings for Chiba Lotte in 2024 and was posted after the season.

Scouting Report: Sasaki has a lean, projectable, 6-foot-4, 202-pound frame and an explosive arsenal that rivals any in Major League Baseball. His fastball sits 96-100 mph and touches 102 with remarkably little effort and jumps on hitters with late explosion. His fastball occasionally flattens out and plays below its raw velocity, but it’s still a plus-plus pitch he can blow by hitters with pure power. Sasaki’s primary weapon is a devastating splitter that most observers consider the best in the world. His splitter comes out of the same slot as his fastball at 88-91 mph before diving hard into the ground to draw foolish swings and misses from both lefthanded and righthanded batters. He cuts his splitter in both directions and throws it with so much power and movement that catchers sometimes struggle to handle it. Sasaki mostly uses his fastball to get ahead of hitters and his splitter to finish them, but he began integrating his slider more last season to become a more complete pitcher. His slider sits 83-85 mph with late, vertical snap and projects to be a plus offering as he throws it with more conviction and confidence. He also drops in an occasional 80-81 mph curveball to steal a strike early in counts. Sasaki ties his head-turning arsenal together with plus control and is an elite competitor who goes right after hitters. The only source of concern is his health. Sasaki’s velocity dropped last year as he battled arm soreness and he has never pitched more than 129.1 innings in a season. A lack of upper body strength causes timing issues in his delivery and puts excess stress on his shoulder and elbow.

The Future: Sasaki projects to be a No. 1 starter as long as he stays healthy. He just turned 23.

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Emmet Sheehan, RHP

• How acquired: Drafted by Dodgers in sixth round of 2021 MLB Draft.
• Highest rank: No. 13 on Dodgers 2023 Top 30
• What We Said: Dodgers 2023 Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: Sheehan pitched sparingly his first two seasons at Boston College but stepped into the Friday night starter’s role as a junior and had a banner season, highlighted by a school-record 15 strikeouts in a game against Pittsburgh. The Dodgers drafted Sheehan in the sixth round and signed him for $244,500. Sheehan impressed in his pro debut and blossomed in his first full season in 2022. He struck out 106 batters in only 68 innings while rising from High-A to Double-A and finished the year with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, capped by striking out eight straight batters in his final AFL start.

Scouting Report: Sheehan is a big, 6-foot-5 righthander who overwhelms hitters with his fastball. He hides his 94-98 mph fastball well behind his big frame and throws it with extreme rise and run out of a low arm slot, generating repeated swings and misses up in the zone. His fastball is a plus pitch he throws liberally, but he also has a low-80s changeup with downward action that projects to be an average pitch. Sheehan’s breaking balls have further to go. His fringe, upper-70s curveball shows promising characteristics but lacks finish and he struggles to maintain feel for his hard, bullet slider. His control is below-average and prevents him from lasting deep into starts.

The Future: Sheehan projects to be a late-inning reliever who dominates with his fastball. He’ll keep developing as a starter for now and will open 2023 back at Double-A.

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Blake Snell, LHP

• How acquired: Signed as free agent, Nov. 2024.
• Highest rank: No. 16 prospect on 2016 Top 100
• What We Said: 2016 Rays Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Previously known for his projectable frame and three-pitch potential, Snell took his stuff to another level in 2015. His command, which had held him back in the past, also made strides. The southpaw finished 2014 at high Class A Charlotte, and he began 2015 with the Stone Crabs before 21 scoreless innings earned him a promotion to Double-A Montgomery. There, Snell continued to run up zeroes until his streak stopped at 49 scoreless innings. A late-July promotion to Triple-A Durham followed, and Snell led all minor league starters with a 1.41 ERA, ranked second with a .182 opponent average and fourth with 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings. He went 15-4 across three levels and earned the BA Minor League Player of the Year award.

Prior to 2015, Snell’s fastball peaked at 94 mph and sat comfortably in the low 90s, giving him plenty of velocity for a lefthander. In 2015, his velocity ticked up, and he sat at 93-94 mph with the ability to reach as high as 97. His fastball maintained its late sinking action, too, making it a devastating pitch when he is able to spot it down in the zone. Snell’s changeup–which had earned praise as a potential above-average pitch–evolved into a bat-missing offering. He has feel for his late-fading change, which earns plus grades from scouts and gives him a weapon to use against righthanded batters. His slider, previously thought to be his best secondary pitch, shows sharp horizontal break down and away from lefthanded batters. Snell also throws a 12-to-6 curveball, though it is more of a supplement to his arsenal than a true weapon. If he can command his powerful stuff, he has a chance to be an impact starter. Before his magical 2015 campaign, Snell struggled with control, walking 4.4 batters per nine innings in 2014 and 6.6 per nine in 2013. He cut his walk rate to 3.6 per nine in 2015 and struck out more than four batters per walk. The Rays considered calling up Snell in September, but he had already thrown a career-high 134 innings. Additionally, the major league team was not in the thick of the playoff race, so Snell’s season ended in Triple-A, though he joined the 40-man roster in November.

If Snell’s command continues to trend in the right direction, he could ascend to the big league rotation in 2016, where his top-shelf stuff and improved strike-throwing ability give him a ceiling of a No. 2 starter. Look for him to earn an in-season callup from Durham but spend most of 2016 in the big league rotation, where he will complement a deep rotation headed by Chris Archer, Alex Cobb, Jake Odorizzi, Drew Smyly and Matt Moore.

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Blake Treinen, RHP

• How acquired: Signed as free agent, 2019.
• Highest rank: No. 19 on A’s 2012 Top 30
• What We Said: 2014 Nationals Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Treinen started his college career in 2007 on the junior varsity at NAIA Baker (Kan.), then spent 2008 at Arkansas (where he did not play) before transferring to South Dakota State (where he sat out 2009 due to NCAA transfer rules). His arm strength got him drafted by the Marlins in 2010 (23rd round) despite a 6.09 ERA, but he returned to post a 3.00 ERA as the SDSU ace in 2011, leaving as the program’s highest-drafted player since 1985. The A’s traded Treinen along with A.J. Cole to the Nationals in the Michael Morse deal before the 2013 season, and he turned in a solid year in Double-A.

Treinen works predominantly off his plus fastball, which sits in the 91-95 mph range and tops out at 97 with power sink at times. He has a durable 6-foot-4 frame and works downhill effectively. His secondary stuff is inconsistent, but he has the makings of a four-pitch repertoire. His curveball flashes plus at times but is below-average at other times, projecting as an average offering with more refinement. He also works in a below-average, short slider in the 81-84 mph range and a fringy changeup in the low 80s with decent arm speed and sink. Treinen is a strike-thrower, but scouts question the quality of his strikes, and most evaluators project him as a middle reliever.

The Nationals could leave him in a starting role and move him to Triple-A in 2014, but he could push for a bullpen job during the season.

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Alex Vesia, LHP

• How acquired: Marlins traded LHP Alex Vesia and RHP Kyle Hurt to Dodgers for Dylan Floro, Feb. 2021.
• Highest rank: Never ranked
• What We Said: Trade Central Scouting Report

An unheralded 17th-round pick out of Division II Cal State East Bay in 2018, Vesia outpitched his draft pedigree and reached the majors in two years. He made five relief appearances with the Marlins last season, although he got hit hard with three home runs allowed in only 4.1 innings and more walks (seven) than strikeouts (five). Vesia relies heavily on his 91-93 mph fastball with a lot of vertical movement, but his out-pitch is a mid-80s slider that gets lots of chase swings and misses from lefthanded batters. He also has a changeup that helped him handle righties in the minors, but it was not particularly effective in his first major league stint. Vesia had trouble throwing strikes in the majors, but he had no such issues in the minors with 138 strikeouts and 26 walks in 100 innings. If he can regain that control, his slider should at least make him a valuable relief weapon against lefties. His past success against righties in the minors provides hope he can be more than just a lefty specialist and won’t be limited by the three-batter minimum.

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Justin Wrobleski, LHP

• How acquired: Drafted by Dodgers in 11th round of 2021 MLB Draft.
• Highest rank: No. 13 on Dodgers 2024 Top 30
• What We Said: 2025 Dodgers Top 30 Prospects Scouting Report

Track Record: Wrobleski pitched at Clemson, State College of Florida and Oklahoma State during his college career but had Tommy John surgery after just nine appearances with the Cowboys. The Dodgers selected Wrobleski in the 11th round in 2021 and signed him for $197,500. He reached the upper levels in 2024 and earned a World Series ring by helping Los Angeles weather the torrent of injuries to its pitching staff by contributing 36.1 innings.

Scouting Report: Like many pitchers in the Dodgers’ organization, Wrobleski’s pitch mix is deep. He backs a lively, mid-90s four-seam fastball—which touched 100 mph in 2024—with a two-seamer, cutter, curveball, slider and changeup. His four-seamer is lively and plays well up in the zone. Wrobleski’s cutter is most-used secondary. Scouts grade both it and his slider as potentially average offerings, while his changeup lags behind as a below-average pitch. Development of his changeup will be the biggest key to Wrobleski’s future because he needs a viable weapon to use against righthanders, who touched him for eight of the nine home runs he allowed in the big leagues and all of seven of the ones he surrendered in the minors. Scouts say his changeup shows solid drop at its best but its quality is inconsistent. He also sometimes tips the pitch by dropping his arm slot. The Dodgers have also continued to work with Wrobleski on mechanical changes, specifically focusing on making his movements down the mound more consistent and better using his lower half.

The Future: Wrobleski will need to bring the consistency and quality of his changeup forward, or find another way to attack righthanders, to reach his ceiling of a back-end starter.

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP

• How acquired: Signed as free agent, 2024
• Highest rank: Ineligible to rank
• What We Said: International Professionals Scouting Report

Track Record: In the long history of successful Japanese pitchers, none have been as decorated as Yamamoto. A former infielder who began focusing on pitching in high school, Yamamoto made his Nippon Professional Baseball debut at 18 years old in 2017 and quickly blossomed into Japan’s premier pitcher. He posted a 1.82 ERA over seven seasons as Orix’s ace and put together arguably the greatest three-year stretch by a pitcher in NPB history from 2021-23. Yamamoto won three straight Sawamura Awards, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award, and three straight Pacific League MVP Awards, the first player to do that since Ichiro Suzuki. He showed his stuff played against MLB hitters during standout showings at the Tokyo Olympics and 2023 World Baseball Classic, helping Japan win gold medals in both, and became the first pitcher in Japanese history to throw a no-hitter in consecutive seasons. Yamamoto fittingly finished his NPB career in record-breaking fashion in the Japan Series. Pitching in Game 6 with Orix facing elimination, Yamamoto pitched a complete game with one run allowed and 14 strikeouts, breaking the series strikeout record held by Yu Darvish.

Scouting Report: Yamamoto is undersized at 5-foot-10, 176 pounds, but he’s strong in his frame and possesses a powerful arsenal he holds deep into games. His fastball sits 94-96 mph and touches 99 with little effort out of a clean, athletic delivery. He has a fast arm and commands his fastball in all quadrants of the strike zone. Yamamoto’s primary secondary pitch is a plus, 88-91 mph splitter with huge depth that induces weak ground balls and empty swings. He commands his splitter exceptionally well and has a good feel for when to use it. Yamamoto’s tight-spinning, 76-78 mph rainbow curveball is another plus pitch that freezes both lefthanded and righthanded hitters. He didn’t throw it often in Japan, but it projects to be a larger part of his repertoire in MLB. He rounds out his arsenal with an above-average, low-90s cutter/short slider that stays off of barrels. Yamamoto ties his stuff together with plus control and an aggressive, attacking mentality. He pitches with a chip on his shoulder and challenges hitters in the strike zone with no fear. He has exceptional feel for mixing his pitches and has the aptitude to make quick in-game adjustments. Yamamoto’s size yields concerns about his durability, but he’s pitched at least 170 innings each of the last three seasons and has a clean health record. He threw 138 pitches in his final start in the Japan Series and reached 98 mph in the ninth inning.

The Future: Yamamoto will have to adjust from pitching once a week in Japan to every five days in MLB, but like Darvish, Masahiro Tanaka, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideo Nomo before him, he has the stuff and aptitude to successfully make that transition. He projects to be a No. 2 starter and has a chance to contend for Cy Young Awards.

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