Dodgers Prospect pipeline: Dalton Rushing leads the pack

Baseball America unveiled its ranking of the top 10 Dodgers prospects on Wednesday morning, with Dalton Rushing topping the list for the second year in a row.

Rushing was a Branch Rickey Award winner last year as the organization’s minor league player of the year, after hitting .271/.385/.512 with 26 home runs and a 142 wRC+ in 114 games. The Dodgers’ top draft pick from 2022 split time this year between catcher and designated hitter for Double-A Tulsa, and then switched to left field for the bulk of his time — 27 of 36 starts — in left field, increasing his versatility for a potential major league call-up.

“Rushing’s bat will easily profile in an outfield corner and should add another jolt of power to their lineup, likely as soon as 2025,” says Baseball America’s scouting report.

Left-hander Jackson Ferris, who was the other Branch Rickey Award winner as the Dodgers pitcher of the year, had a great first season in the organization after getting acquired from the Cubs in the Michael Busch trade in January. The 20-year-old posted a 3.20 ERA in 27 starts between High-A Great Lakes and Double-A Tulsa with 145 strikeouts and 57 walks in 126⅔ innings. Ferris led all Dodgers minor leaguers in strikeouts and was second in innings pitched.

What a way to make a living for Ferris, who was the Dodgers’ No. 9 prospect last offseason at Baseball America and is No. 5 now.

Shortstop Alex Freeland was a high riser not only on prospect lists but also during last season, starting in High-A Great Lakes but ending in Triple-A, hitting a combined .260/.387/.442 with a 132 wRC+ across three levels while holding down shortstop. Baseball America ranks Freeland as the second-best Dodgers prospect at the moment.

“Defensively, Freeland has a chance to stick at shortstop but second or third base are also viable options. His bat would profile at either spot,” BA’s scouting report said. “Freeland’s above-average arm makes third base his likeliest non-shortstop defensive home.”

Sure enough, Freeland is listed by Baseball America as the Dodgers third baseman in the projected 2028 lineup, in a page that accompanies the prospect list. The caveat here is they don’t assume any free agent contracts in the future, so take that with a grain of salt.

Starting pitchers Justin Wrobleski and River Ryan, who each debuted in the majors in 2024, are ranked eighth and 10th respectively, with Ryan dinged after his Tommy John surgery in August.

Youth abounds on the rest of the Dodgers top 10, including outfielders Josue De Paula and Zyhir Hope ranked third and fourth, respectively, with Hope coming off a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. Also in the top 10 are fellow teenagers Eduardo Quintero and Joendry Vargas from the 2023 international market, and 2024 first-round draft pick Kellon Lindsey.