For the third consecutive spring, teams of top prospects from each MLB organization will face off against one another in a series of exhibitions showcasing the game’s rising stars. Every team will participate, with the Brewers — who boast the top farm system in the game according to MLB Pipeline — and Phillies playing in two games apiece.
On Saturday, getaway day for the MLB team, the Dodgers Spring Breakout prospects will face off against the Chicago White Sox prospects at 2:30 PM.
Here is the Dodgers spring breakout roster:
- Left-handed pitchers (4): Maddux Bruns, Cody Morse, Zach Root, Adam Serwinowski
- Right-handed pitchers (4): Cam Day, Payton Martin, Marlon Nieves, Christian Zazueta
- Catchers (2): Francisco Espinoza, Victor Rodrigues
- Infielders (7): Moises Bolivar, Chase Harlan, Elijah Hainline, Kellon Lindsey, Emil Morales, Joendry Vargas, Logan Wagner
- Outfielders (10): Charles Davalan, Josue De Paula, Zach Ehrhard, Kendall George, Zyhir Hope, Eduardo Quintero, Mike Sirota, James Tibbs III, Brendan Tunink, Landyn Vidourek
Obviously the strength of this roster is the OF. Every one of the 10 are top prospects in the Dodgers organization, with 4 consensus top 100 overall. I think we have seen every OF other than Tunink in ST games.
I will be watching 18 year old catcher Francisco Espinoza (Acarigua, Venezuela). As an 18 year old in the Arizona Complex League last year, in 140 PA he batted .350/.443/.467/.910, 2 HR, 9 XBH, 19 BB, 17 K. I did not see any of his games so I cannot comment on his catching skills.
The other catcher, Victor Rodrigues, will probably start. He is 21 from Maracay, Venezuela, and was productive as a 20 year old in full season A Ball (RC). He is a contact over slug hitter. He had just 1 HR, 10 XBH, with 62 BB and 40 K. He also had 10 SB with 2 CS.
I am also looking forward to see how Kellon Lindsey has rebounds from his injury last year. He still intrigues me, and I have hopes for him. This should be a good showcase for Emil Morales. I am still hyped for Joendry Vargas, and want to see how he responds to a lost year in 2025.
This will be our first time seeing LHSP Zach Root. Christian Zazueta is getting a lot of good hype. As I have said multiple times, I am not a Maddux Bruns fan. But if last year’s reports are correct, Bruns is being transitioned to the bullpen. I will be interested to see how he handles his command and control if he only needs to navigate 1 inning.
I wonder why Cam Leiter is not on the roster. I assume he is still recovering and rehabbing from his 2024 shoulder surgery.
In addition to Zazueta, Marlon Nieves is also a RHP to watch. A lot of early hype on him. He has gone from a $10,000 IFA signing to a potential mid-rotation starter prospect. Last year as a 20 year old he pitched in the ACL and full season A Ball. He totaled 84 innings and compiled a combined ERA of 2.79. He had 94 K and 44 BB. He has gone to a 2-seamer and can get it up to 99, with a potential swing and miss slider.
Appreciate the annotations. Serwinowski is certainly a fascinating arm to watch. Good size and possibly the best two pitch mix in the org. Agree about Lindsey. Looking forward to seeing what he looks like. Elite speed plus a good bat at SS could launch him toward the top of the list with a healthy year. Vargas needs a bounceback season to still be considered among the big names. Had not heard the Bruns news but makes sense, and thanks for the heads up on Espinoza. New one to me.
Purchasing the contract of Santiago Espinal was a no-brainer. Ryan Fitzgerald being re-assigned was an obvious move. I am guessing that his contract did not have an opt out, at least not out of ST. Why has Alex Freeland not been optioned? Why hasn’t Nick Senzel been reassigned to MiLB camp or traded or released? Hyeseong Kim has done absolutely everything asked of him and has clearly been better than Freeland and Senzel this Spring. And I went into Spring hoping that the job would go to Freeland. Kim earned the job.
In a head scratching move, AF/BG and LAD coaches have decided that Roki Sasaki inexplicably deserves the rotation spot more than River Ryan. In his last start in Spring, Ryan went 4.0 innings allowing 1 run. For ST, River has pitched in 4 games with 9.2 IP. He has allowed 2 runs, on 5 hits, 4 BB, and 12 K. 4 of his hits allowed came in the 1st inning of his last game. 1 of those hits was 66.4 MPH and a 2nd was at 77. The other two were hard hit, but that is going to happen every game. He got out of it thanks in large part to some bad baserunning by Joc. But he got out of it.
Sasaki has not completed 3 innings in any of his starts other than his last when he was brought back in the 4th.
Sasaki was advising the media that he was working on his slider in his last start which was not working very well for him. Great. Why not work on it at OKC instead of Ryan.
Ryan is more stretched out than Sasaki. But Sasaki did strike out a bunch of ChiSox MiLB players in a B game. That is like saying he had a great bullpen. You want to move him to the bullpen, I am all in. But he is not ready to start at the MLB level right now. He has not pitched well in any of his starts. And Ryan has pitched well all Spring.
And yet Ryan is the one who is optioned.
With Ryan and Hurt already optioned, it appears that Edgardo Henriquez will be on the 26-man. It also appears that Emmet Sheehan will be Sasaki’s piggyback and long reliever until a 6th starter is needed.
Dave Roberts also said Kyle Hurt was sent down for now so he can keep building a “foundation” in his return from Tommy John surgery. They want to put more “tread on his tires” right now, but expect him back in the majors at some point.
I guess Henriquez is a proven veteran, and does not need anymore tread on his tires.
IMO, many decisions were made before ST. Espinal was the only non-roster player selected, and he would not have been had Edman not been out or Freeland having a horrendous spring.
Head scratching indeed.
It’s quite obvious that Doc is planning a career in politics after he retires as Dodger manager.
His ability to speak while really saying nothing of substance has him well prepared for his future career.
The above should not be considered an opinion on his managerial qualifications.
What is the big deal. Because of their injuries, the Dodgers are slow playing both Hurt and Ryan, which is much easier to do at OKC. Have them ready for 2nd half of the year if injuries or Sasaki doesn’t develop. Dodgers have enough firepower to allow Sasaki a long runway. If he regains his command, Roli could be very special.
Well said Cassidy. Being a very long season there will be plenty of opportunities for everyone to get their shot when the time comes.
Badger and Cassidy, do you believe that Sasaki is better than Ryan? I thought the best should make the team, not the one with the most hype. Not much hype comes with the return on a trade for Matt Beaty.
We are talking about starting not relieving. In his MLB career, Sasaki has 8 starts and has accumulate 34.1 IP, or an average of 4.1 IP. 22 BB and 24 K. 3 HBP and 6 HR.
Ryan has 4 MLB starts, 20.1 IP averaging over 5.0 innings per start. 9 BB, 18 K, 0 HBP, 1 HR.
If Sasaki was productive as a starter in ST, that would be different. If he was more productive than Ryan that would be different. But Sasaki has not proven he is a MLB SP. But he does have that $6.5MM bonus and the hype that goes with it.
I am sure Ryan will start at some point with LAD. Just as I am sure that Sasaki would if he were the one who was optioned. How many starts do you give Sasaki? He had 8 last year, and did not look good. Ryan did not have a bad start. Before he walked off the mound in Pittsburgh, he was outpitching Paul Skenes.
Ryan deserved the spot in the rotation to start the season.
I agree Jeff. We’ve seen this kind of thing before. Sometimes I wonder what AF and Roberts are thinking.
You’re right but it might still be the correct move.
Big picture is the only picture.
Do I believe Sasaki is better than Ryan?
I don’t know how to answer that without not really answering. I have no clear idea how the Dodgers arrived at the decision they did, I only know they did. After 9.2 innings, probably against mostly minor league players (4 games, 1 start) the Dodgers decided Ryan should get prepared at AAA. I do know I like Sasaki’s stuff, a lot, and believe after one more start in preseason he will be ready to go five in his next start. He’s in the starting rotation and I’m fine with it.
I’ll trust those who run this back to back championship team to make the right decision.
We’ll know if they were right or wrong come May. But for now, let’s see how Roki does for 5 starts.
In the meantime, it’s quite likely River Ryan will be up in April when we have a bunch of games in a row without a day off.
Was there a promise made to Sasaki to get him to sign? Something about the naming of Dodgers stadium? Something about TV ratings in Japan? Something about getting future free agents to sign
Dodgers can say, see how we treated Conforto ?
???
Right now I like Ryan over Sasaki. Better command. But coming off his injury Ryan isn’t going to pitch every 5-6th day and give us 200 innings. It’s not important who pitches in April, but who’s pitching in Sept and October. Ryan’s only gonna pitch 100 or so innings this year so slow play him now in OKC. This also gives Sasaki a less pressurized time to work through his issues at the beginning of the year. The Dodgers are making the playoffs even if I’m the 6th starter.
Well said.
Yeah, it’s all about October so I trust the org.
Here’s AF’s take on Sasaki.
https://www.si.com/mlb/dodgers/onsi/news/andrew-friedman-explains-dodgers-rationale-for-not-demoting-roki-sasaki-01km4n9a68yz
{pointing} Teacher’s pet!