LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers chosen left-hander Ronan Kopp to their 40-man roster forward of Tuesday’s 3 p.m. PT deadline to guard prospects from subsequent month’s Rule 5 Draft.
Kopp was the one participant added, leaving others uncovered, however the Dodgers didn’t have many apparent candidates to guard. None of their seven prospects on MLB Pipeline’s Prime 100 checklist had been eligible, and solely two of their Prime 30 prospects had been: right-hander Peter Heubeck (No. 23) and shortstop Noah Miller (No. 25).
Gamers first signed at age 18 or youthful should be added to 40-man rosters inside 5 seasons. Gamers signed at 19 years or older need to be protected inside 4 seasons. The Rule 5 Draft will happen through the Winter Conferences from Dec. 7-10 in Orlando, Fla.
The Dodgers’ 40-man roster is at 39 gamers. They lately opened a spot by buying and selling left-hander Robinson Ortiz — who had his contract chosen earlier this month — to the Mariners in trade for righty Tyler Gough on Sunday.
Kopp, 23, was the Dodgers’ Twelfth-round decide within the 2021 Draft out of South Mountain Neighborhood Faculty in Phoenix. He started this previous season with Double-A Tulsa and ended it with Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis, combining for a 3.43 ERA throughout 49 appearances. He struck out 91 towards 42 walks in 57 2/3 innings.
Amongst Minor Leaguers who pitched at the least 50 innings in Double-A and Triple-A, Kopp’s 14.2 strikeouts per 9 innings charge was the fourth highest.
Whereas Kopp was the one prospect protected on Tuesday, the Dodgers additionally added considered one of their Rule 5-eligible Minor Leaguers to the 40-man roster on Nov. 6. Unranked outfield prospect Ryan Ward had his contract chosen after a Pacific Coast League MVP marketing campaign with Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis.
Left unprotected in final yr’s Rule 5 Draft, Ward was not chosen by any of the opposite 29 groups. He was Los Angeles’ eighth-round Draft decide in 2019, and he loved a breakout ’25, his third yr with Oklahoma Metropolis.
Ward hit .290 with a .937 OPS, 36 homers and 122 RBIs. He struck out 20 fewer occasions than in ’24 in 123 extra plate appearances. His assertion offensive season had him on the Dodgers’ radar as the large league membership obtained inconsistent manufacturing from its outfielders, however he was finally by no means referred to as up.
That might change in 2026, which shall be his age-28 season. Common supervisor Brandon Gomes informed reporters ultimately week’s GM Conferences that Ward will probably get some alternatives on the massive league degree, which may assist fill the Dodgers’ want within the outfield.
