I am not just asking for MiLB to MLB, but for every ladder of the organization. It is widely suggested that once a player reaches and succeeds at AA, he is deemed near MLB ready. That does not mean they are deemed future MLB stars or even regulars.
There have been a handful of MLB players who have made the jump directly from AA to MLB. Without doing the research, Atlanta’s Michael Harris II, Cardinals Jordan Walker, Dodgers Clayton Kershaw and Emmet Sheehan. And there are countless others who have made the jump from AAA with limited AAA ABs, and multiple pitchers making that same jump with limited starts and IP.
After dominating in AA in 2023, 23 year old Emmet Sheehan was promoted to LAD to face SF Giants on June 16, 2023. He no-hit the Giants for 6.0 innings before being lifted. He had another QS in his next start, but went 5.0 innings in a blowout win vs Colorado in his 3rd start. His next 3 starts were not good, but came back for another good start and then a 4.0 IP save before being optioned to AAA. Overall, Sheehan had 156.2 MiLB IP before the MLB Call.
After being optioned to AAA, he pitched in 3 games, 1 start, and pitched 9.2 innings before being recalled to LAD to finish the season. He appeared in the 1st game of the NLDS relieving Clayton Kershaw in the 1st inning with a runner on 2nd. He got the two batters he faced to end the inning.
The next inning did not go well for Sheehan. But his 2nd and 3rd full innings were well pitched, especially his 3rd full inning.
He was out all of 2024 and much of 2025 after TJ surgery. He came back and pitched very well last year, and while 2026 has had mixed results, Sheehan has proven he is a MLB pitcher. Back of the rotation pitcher for a contending team, but a MLB starting pitcher nonetheless.
Then there is Bobby Miller who was given an even more aggressive promotion journey. In 2021, his first year of professional pitching outside of the Alternate Camp due to Covid, he was assigned to A+ Great Lakes. On September 8, 2021, he was on the fast track to AA where he started 3 games.
After 91.0 IP at AA in 2022, Miller was promoted to AAA at 23 years old, where he pitched 21.1 innings in 4 starts. In 2023, Miller started back at AAA where he started another 4 games and 14.1 IP before getting promoted to LAD where he finished a very successful rookie season.
Unfortunately 2023 did not end well for Miller has he was hit hard in his 1.2 IP start against Arizona in the NLDS.
In 2024, his start against Philadelphia seemingly put Miller as one of the top rotation pitchers for LAD. He allowed 2 hits in 6.0 scoreless innings, with 1 BB and 11 K. He was back. Then two not so good starts and he was placed on the 15-day IL with shoulder inflammation.
After 2 rehab starts at Rancho and 2 at OKC the Dodgers activated Miller on June 19. After 2 poor starts, Miller was optioned to AAA. He has never pitched well since that Philadelphia start.
On July 27, Miller was placed fulltime in the bullpen where he seemingly found his way. He allowed a run in his July 27 appearance, but then settled down where he did not allow an earned run his next 8 appearances (1 unearned run).
After that run, Miller hit a wall where he allowed 9 runs (all earned) in his next 4 games (5.2 IP).
Miller has not pitched at all in 2026 due to another shoulder injury. Miller had 183 MiLB IP before getting the Call.
River Ryan was promoted to MLB after 176.1 total MiLB IP (23.1 AAA).
Gavin Stone was a bit more experienced with 124 AAA IP.
All four of Sheehan, Miller, Ryan, and Stone have had their careers stalled due to significant injuries. Were they rushed? What is an appropriate number of MiLB IP before getting called to MLB? AAA innings? Stone and Ryan did not make it out of their rookie season before succumbing to season ending injuries. Sheehan and Miller got through their rookie season, but Sheehan could not start his sophomore season and Miller did not pitch well in his sophomore season due to shoulder issues. Ryan and Sheehan had TJ surgery, Stone significant shoulder surgeries, and Miller constant shoulder injuries, but no surgery…yet.
Should River Ryan be recalled by LAD or should he continue to build up in OKC?
Patrick Copen has had mixed results in May after being Texas League Pitcher of the Month for April. How much more time should he stay in AA?
Jackson Ferris is back with OKC, when will he be considered MLB ready?
I think some teams may have OKC’s 23 year old RHSP Christian Romero on their radar. He will be blocked by a good number of pitchers in the LAD organization, but he has pitched decently in the PCL and very good on occasions.
The Dodgers have 4 AA outfielders who are performing well at Tulsa. 3 of the 4 are consensus top 100 players (Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, and Mike Sirota). Kendall George has been having a great start, but is now on the IL with an injured knee.
The team has another top 100 player in OF Eduardo Quintero at Great Lakes. Another top LAD OF prospect but not in the top 100 (yet) is Chuck Davalan, also at Great Lakes. Ching-Hsien Ko and Jaron Elkins at Ontario. All three of these players are blocked by the elite OF ahead of them.
But the closest to MLB is James Tibbs III at OKC. In 211 AB (251 PA), Tibbs III is slashing .322/.426/.659/1.085.
- HR – 17, #1 in PCL
- Doubles – 16, #2 (Tied)
- XBH – 35, #1 (+6 over #2)
- Hits – 68, #5 (-3 behind teammate Ryan Fitzgerald #1)
- BA – #10
- OBP – #7
- SLG – #1
- OPS – #1
Tibbs has now hit 6 HRs in the last 6 games and 4 consecutive games. He could have had his contract purchased, but the Dodgers decided to go with Ryan Ward when Teo went down.
Some like to say that PCL numbers are suspect. Maybe, but when you are putting up numbers like JTIII they cannot be discounted simply because of the PCL. Otherwise, every PCL hitter is suspect.
JTIII is playing primarily DH these days with Zach Ehrhard and Jack Suwinski playing well at OKC, there is not a lot of room for a promotion of one of the AA OF.
But how long should De Paula, Hope, and Sirota be retained in Tulsa? When is the right time for them to get promoted to AAA? When should Davalan and Quintero get promoted to AA? Ko and Elkins to A+?
Josue De Paula, one of the youngest players in AA is slashing .323/.424/.545/.969:
- Hits – 61, #1
- Runs – 44, #2
- Doubles – 18, #1 (+5 over #2)
- HR – 8, #12
- XBH – 26, #2
- BA – #2 (behind Kendall George)
- OBP – #3
- SLG – #4
- OPS – #4
He really does not have much less to prove in AA, but who does he displace at AAA?
Mike Sirota has been brilliant since the Dodgers traded for him. Again, no place to go? Hope is having a very good year. I would guess that JDP and Sirota would get the call before Hope, but who knows.
June is often when a lot of performance promotions are made. There are multiple Dodgers prospects who might warrant such a promotion if they were blocked.
Others who should be considered (IMO).
AA (Tulsa) –
- RHRP Nick Robertson – 15 games, 21.1 IP, 0 runs, 4 hits, 5 BB, 25 K, ERA 0.00, WHIP .042.
- RHRP Cam Day – 19 games, 24.0 IP, 14 hits, 10 BB, 19 K, 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
- RHSP Patrick Copen and LHSP Adam Serwinowski are probably better suited for AA for the time. Potential summer promotion.
A+ (Great Lakes) –
- 3B/2B Logan Wagner – Currently on the 7 Day IL, has not played since May 7. For 2026 – .307/.352/.588/.940.
- Eduardo Quintero and Chuck Davalan are possible promotions once some of the OF road blocks start to open up.
- Watch for RHSP Christian Zazueta and LHRP Zach Root to get promoted this summer
- SS Emil Morales has already been promoted to A+.
A (Ontario) –
- 3B Chase Harlan – .331/.457/.548/1.005 – With Logan Wagner on the IL, I am not sure why Harlan has not yet been promoted. Nico Perez and Eduardo Guerrero are good players and have not played themselves off the roster, but Harlan may be special.
- C Anson Aroz – .313/.452/.463/.915 – With only 1 catcher at A+, Aroz should be strongly considered for a promotion.
- 2B Kellon Lindsey – .429/.478/.667/1.145 – Started the year injured, but hit well enough in Rancho pre injury last year, and is hitting better at Ontario this year. Is there a spot for him? He needs to stay healthy.
- Ching-Hsien Ko and Jaron Elkins – See comment on Quintero and Davalan above.
- 2B Javier Herrera and C Francisco Espinoza have already been promoted to Ontario.
Dodgers look to build depth for MLB which is why AAA has a lot of AAAA players. They may or may not be blocking players with potentially higher pedigree down below.
Rookie League Reports
Top LAD IFA signings for 2026:
- Rubel Arias, OF, Dominican Republic ($1 million) #46
- Ezequiel Melbourne, SS, Dominican Republic ($750,000) #67
- Ariel Reynoso, SS, Dominican Republic #86
- Jose Victorino, SS, Dominican Republic, #93
- Tom Apfelbaum, LHP, Germany
- Miguel Herrera, LHP, Venezuela
- Jose Requena, OF, Venezuela – Traded to Arizona for Jake McCarthy
- Luis Ricart, RHP, Dominican Republic
,
DSL Dodgers Bautista 9 – Dodgers Red Sox Blue 6
DSL Dodgers Bautista had three of the top IFA signees on their roster: OF Rubel Arias, SS Ezequiel Melbourne, SS Ariel Reynoso.
CF Rubel Arias – 1st year in DSL, 17 years old, 2-6, 2 runs, 1 RBI
LF Helvin Mendoza – 1st year in DSL, 17 years old, 2-4, 1 walk, 1 run
2B Ariel Reynoso – 1st year in DSL, 17 years old, 1-2, 3 walks, 3 runs
SS Ezequiel Melbourne – 1st year in DSL, 17 years old, 1-4, 1 walk, 2 runs, 1 RBI, double (1)
C Haram Hernandez – 1st year in DSL, 17 years old, 2-5, 1 run, 2 RBI
3B Adrian Del Cid – 1st year in DSL, 17 years old, 2-3, 2 walks
DH Fran-Jean Haseth – 1st year in DSL, 17 years old, 2-5, 3 RBI
RHP Enmanuel De La Rosa – 2nd year in DSL, 23 years old – 2.1 IP, 0 runs, 2 hits 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Alexander Pichardo – 1st year in DSL, 18 years old – 2.1 IP, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 BB, 3 K, 1st save
DSL Dodgers Mega 18 – DSL Padres Gold 9
2B Moises Acacio -2nd year in DSL 18 years old – 3-6, 1 BB, 3 runs, 3 RBI, 3-run HR (1)
3B Hendry Arvelo – 2nd year in DSL, 19 years old – 2-4, 3 BB, 3 runs
SS Jose Victorino – 1st year in DSL, 17 years old – 2-6, 1 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI
LF Erny Orellana – 3rd year in DSL, 19 years old – 2-5, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, triple (1)
5 pitchers 9 runs (8 earned), 8 hits, 8 BB, 10 K No one pitcher stood out.
ACL Brewers 7 – ACL Dodgers 6
ACL Dodgers put up 5 in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead. Three walks and a DP allowed Brewers to tie it up in the 9th. Brewers pushed one across in the 10th and the Dodgers did not.
- 2B Daniel Mielcarek – 2-4, 1 run
- LF Abel Lorenzo – 2-4, 1 run
- 3B Moises Bolivar – 2-4, 1 run 3 RBI, Double (3) HR (4)
- 1B Cameron Decker on rehab assignment – double (2)
- OF Jhon Gil – HR (1)
Congratulations to my USC Trojans Baseball team. USC completed a masterful College Station Regional comeback, capping off multiple elimination game wins with a 7-1 victory over No. 12 Texas A&M for the program’s first regional championship in 21 years. It’s been a long journey back for the program, but it’s another step forward under head coach Andy Stankiewicz, who inherited a last-place team in 2022.
Now can the football team follow suit?
Go Ducks 😉
Oregon fans are Quakers!
Shoulld read, QUACKERS.
D’Backs are a good team. As stated pre season, they will be the Dodgers biggest rivals in the West.
How about batting Mookie 9th, in front of Shohei?
How about 9th in OKC? Right now there’s a huge hole in the middle of our lineup with Betts, Tucker and Smith. And I’m not convinced it gets turned around in October. If June is Tucker’s month, then let’s see what he’s got. A 10 home run season is not what we paid for.!
And thank you Jeff for all your insight into our farm system.Not enough spots for all the talent.
According to Orel and Joe last night, Mookie is hitting the ball harder than he has in the last two years. Problem is probably in his head right about now.
Watford. the Snakes’ offense is OK,but their starting pitching and bullpen are not that good. They will finish 9 games or more behind the Dodgers in the standings and will NOT make the October tournament. Bet it!
Their defense is exceptional.
This is a thought provoking piece, it really makes me think about two things that are becoming more and more impactful:
The changing in how teams use their AAA clubs
And
The reduction of minor league teams
Great stuff Jeff.
Nice work Jeff,really informative information you don’t get anywhere else on Dodger minor league players and their possible futures.
It would appear, until there is a new CBA anyway, Dodgers minor leaguers will remain blocked.
So what’s the plan?
Develop minor leaguers and trade them for whatever might be needed is definitely part of it.
If we are to believe what we are being told everywhere we read on the subject, most of the Dodgers top prospects are outfielders. In the 5 year plan, and we know there is a 5 year plan, how many of these outfielders will play for the Dodgers? And who are they?
So what is the position of need going forward? SS? 3B? SP? I honestly don’t know. And what will be the needs from July to November? We’ve all been guessing. Some are willing to express those suppositions here, others remain quiet on the subject. I’ve guessed starting pitching. There appears to be some fragility with arms, all over the league really. Not difficult to see why. Emphasis on velocity. If that remains policy, and no immediate reason to suspect it won’t, I will continue to support what I have believed for a long time now – load management. The Dodgers need a 6 or even 7 man rotation with a stable of bullpen arms, some of whom with frequent flier miles from OKC to LA. In looking at what has been going on early, it would appear we are watching exactly that. And those starters who throw anywhere near 100 mph? A pitch limit.
I could go on for hours. Since I moved from Sedona I have no one here with whom to discuss these things. So I ramble on here.
8 weeks are so to the deadline. So much could still happen between now and then. In the meantime we hang on to everybody and wait for the next injury to determine who goes where. Any guesses on who’s next to go on the jacuzzi circuit?
Sirota
DePaula
Hope
Tibbs III
Georgo
Quintero
Davalan
Ehrhard
Ko
Elkins
10 – Count ’em, TEN Top OF Prospects
Some will flame out, some will exceed expectations, maybe one or two will be stars. The question is who:
My three keepers:
Sirota, DePaula, Quintero
When I see the ball jump off Sirota’s bat, especially to RF, I thonk he’s going to be a player. Stay healthy, keep your athleticism and keep moving up.
Pages looks like he’s solidified his grip on centerfield. He still has work to do out there but his improvement is apparent. Teo is signed, with team options, through ’29. He could be moved if deemed necessary. Tucker and his bloated contract is signed, with player options, through ’29, with deferred money stretched out to 2045. (yoiks) so he’s probably here for a while. He was signed to help with the 3peat.
There just doesn’t appear to be room for three outfielders who could all be ready by next year. And the other 7? It continues to spell trade to me.
And of course it’s not really possible to predict the future without clarity on the new CBA. It’s conceivable the team will apply all the necessary pressure to complete this 3peat goal then rebuild with $200 million fewer dollars. If that’s the case, pick the kids you want to keep and sell the rest for even more promise.
Holy prospect content, Batman. Jeff rules!
Romero signed out of Mexico and has been in the system since 2021. His numbers this year and overall don’t look that great. What am I missing? His stuff?
De Paula: #1 prospect with a bullet. Could be overall top 5 by end of season.
Zazueta/Root: Totally agree AA is in their futures.
Aroz: We went from like a billion catching prospects to a few. Is this guy the goods?
Lindsey: Hope he makes the jump to A+ and regains his post-hype status.
Out of all the pitching prospects LA has developed over the last six or seven years, none have excited me more than River Ryan. His debut in ’24 was electric–and then he got hurt.
Bobby Miller looked like he’d be a front-line starter for years–and then it all went sideways. Gavin Stone stepped up nicely–and he got hurt too.
Before these guys, there was Buhler, May and Gonsolin–and all got injured.
Funny, but I had always placed Wrobleski a rung below all of these guys, perhaps because there was so little hype for an 11th-round draft pick. But he’s stayed mostly healthy and has an outside chance to be an all-star…not unlike Gonsolin and Stripling. Sheehan has been good and deserved more offensive support today.
But Ryan is the one I really want to see….
He should get a few starts before the Tigers start taking bids for Skubal.
Don’t forget Urias was a prized prospect
Yes, and where did he end up? He isn’t even playing ball now. No one will sign him. Urias was so so until after his surgery, then he blossomed., But no scout can predict what someone’s character is.
Stone was really great in 2024.
Stone is the most polished of the bunch. I loved watching him pitch. He is like Wrobo in a way, he attacks the zone.
It’s nice to see Brian Perkins is alive and well. It took me a while, but I figured it out!
😉
Brian Perkins, centerfielder for the Brewers, right? Batting .092. Damm, that’s worse than Mookie.
Wait, that’s Blake Perkins. Wrong guy.
Jeff, Mark, anyone, tell me about Emil Morales. 6’3” 190 pound 19 year old shortstop. From what I read in his scouting report, overall 55 grade with 60 power, he sounds like maybe another Seager. (I said maybe)
Shortstop is still my favorite position. It used to be the most important defensive position on the field. Not so much in the new lift and drive era, but still an important up the middle defensive position. Does Morales stay there, or does he move to third as he matures and adds muscle to the 6’3” frame? He and the 6’3” Chase Harlan are my left side fantasy infield for 2028 and beyond.
Morales is still 19, and is 6′ 3″/190 pounds. He will likely add 20+m pounds by age 21 or 22. The question is whether he can stay at SS. If he bulks up too much, he could end up in RF. He has an arm like Pages. He is not a defensive wizard, but how much he fills out will tell the story. Harlan and Wagner are in the Mix for 3B as well.
I have to again RAVE about today’s MINOR LEAGUE CONTENT. If you’ve spent any time reading LA Dodger Talk’s Minor League Report, you’ve seen the fingerprints of Jeff Dominique everywhere. Jeff doesn’t just report on the Dodgers’ farm system; he brings it to life. With the eye of a scout, the diligence of a beat writer, and the passion of a lifelong baseball fan, he turns box scores into stories and prospects into people. Night after night, he digs through the details that most fans never see, delivering insightful, accurate, and engaging coverage from Oklahoma City to the Arizona Complex League. His work has become an indispensable part of LA Dodger Talk, giving readers a front-row seat to the future of the Dodgers organization. Simply put, when it comes to covering the Dodgers’ minor leagues, Jeff Dominique is in a league of his own.
Well said.
Agreed. He’s literally the best.
Jeff is the BOMB!
This offense, though potentially potent, is maddeningly inconsistent. 9 runs 1 day, 1 run the next. Bottom of the order is producing better than any other in the majors OPSing above .800. If the top 5 ever get their shit together, look out MLB. Ohtani has been hitting for average, but no power surge yet. You expect him to have a month where he slugs 15 or more homers. So far, his numbers are 6 in April/March and 4 in May. In the last 28 days, Shohei is hitting .360.
“As of early June 2026, Arizona’s pitching staff continues to struggle, with the starting rotation ranking near the bottom of the league and the bullpen showing high volume but inconsistent results.
Starting PitchingArizona’s rotation is currently ranked 26th out of 30 teams. While Eduardo Rodriguez has been a bright spot with a 2.31 ERA, the rest of the rotation has underperformed.Performance Metrics: The unit has posted a collective 4.68 ERA and 4.63 FIP.Key Starters:Zac Gallen: Has an underwhelming 5.16 ERA.Merrill Kelly: Struggles with high volatility, recently lowering his ERA to 7.62.Ryne Nelson: Has taken a step back from his 2025 form, currently holding a 4.82 ERA.
Relief PitchingThe bullpen is among the busiest in the league but lacks efficiency, generally ranking in the bottom half of Major League Baseball.ERA Ranking: The bullpen’s ERA sits at 3.86, which ranks 23rd according to some tracking metrics, though other season-long assessments place them as low as 27th.Save Volume: The Diamondbacks rank 8th in total saves (16) and are 1st in total save opportunities, reflecting a heavy reliance on the bullpen to protect leads.Reliability: The unit has a 59% save conversion rate, which is the 10th worst in MLB. They also hold the league’s worst WHIP at 1.51”.
Some say you can’t get beat giving up solo home runs. Emmet Sheehan may feel otherwise.
Not when your team only scores one run.
“As of early June 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers feature one of the premier pitching staffs in Major League Baseball, ranking in the top tier for both starting and relief pitching.
Starting Pitching RankingThe Dodgers’ starting rotation is widely considered the #1 overall unit in MLB. This “five aces” staff features elite depth and high strikeout potential.Rotation Leaders: The staff is anchored by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani, who returned to the mound in May 2026.Key Additions: Two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell and newcomer Roki Sasaki further bolster a rotation that has a combined strikeout-per-nine ratio above 10.Statistical Standing: The team overall leads the league with a 3.10 ERA, largely driven by the starters’ dominance.
Relief Pitching RankingThe Dodgers’ bullpen is also elite, generally ranked within the top 3 in MLB.Bullpen Efficiency: The relief corps currently boasts a 2.81 ERA, which is among the lowest in the league as of June 2026. They are particularly effective at limiting free passes, maintaining an efficient 8% walk rate earlier in the season.Closing & Depth: High-leverage situations are handled by Edwin Díaz, who serves as the primary closer, supported by Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, and Blake Treinen.Performance: Analysts consistently place them in the top tier of Bullpen Power Rankings, often alongside teams like the Braves and Padres”.
And reinforcements are just around the corner. I still think they need one more lights out reliever. Maybe Phillips is that guy. Dreyer looked rusty yesterday.
https://x.com/DodgersBeat/status/2061242940543152465?s=20
The Athletic on Justin Wrobleski:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7322124/2026/06/01/dodgers-justin-wrobleski-breakout/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=147501&source=dailyemail
“His pitching coaches describe him as tenacious. His teammates describe him as a “dog.” The industrywide push for swing-and-miss dominates pitching evaluations. But Wrobleski’s emphasis isn’t on the strikeout and the whiff rate. It’s on attacking hitters and getting outs in whatever way the game calls for.
“There are just certain days where you’re going to go out there, and guys are gonna be aggressive, and they’re gonna put the ball in play,” Wrobleski explained. “I’m trying to get them to miss, but at the same time, why do I need to chase miss when it’s 0-1? You don’t get an extra point if you get a swing-and-miss early in the count.
“I think two-strike put-away, that’s important. That’s when I want miss,” he added. “But at the same time, in baseball, there’s sort of like a lost art of understanding when you need miss versus when you don’t, versus knowing what pitches you need to throw in certain counts to induce contact, or where you need to throw certain pitches and have pitchability.”