Dodger prospects fuel a special season

Prospects, like Josue De Paula and Christian Zazueta, authored spectacular seasons in each level of LA’s Player Development system

by Megan Garcia

There was something special about the Dodgers’ Player Development system this year.

Feats were accomplished and league awards were earned by top prospects. A unique group in Triple-A Oklahoma City fueled a pair of championship titles, as the Comets won the Pacific Coast League championship and the Triple-A title.

Each Minor League level had a group of standout players who made noticeable strides in their young careers. The key word here being young.

So, what was different in 2026 compared to other years?

“Nothing,” said Will Rhymes, Dodgers Vice President of Player Development.

“We’ve always tried to operate at a high level. We have an incredible staff and they work extremely hard,” said Rhymes. “Some years it’s very outwardly visible how successful those efforts are, and then other (years) it isn’t. But that doesn’t lessen the work or the quality of the work. This year was very rewarding seeing so many players take huge steps forward.”

Eight of the Dodgers’ top 10 prospects, per MLB.com’s Pipeline, are 22 years old or younger. Six of them reached at least the Double-A level in 2026. Josue De Paula being one of them, who made his Major League debut on Sept. 11 at 21 years old.

“I think we’re in a unique time in our system with this amount of young quality position players.” Rhymes said.

De Paula became the first position player to skip Triple-A and go directly to the Major Leagues since 2014. His exceptional talent as a hitter — evident by his ability to lay off pitches outside the zone — made that possible.

He slashed .303/.401/.547/.948 with 27 home runs and 104 RBI in 124 games with Double-A Tulsa before his MLB promotion. He finished the season going 10-for-31 (.323) in 11 games with the Dodgers, and he was on each postseason roster (NL Division and Championship Series).

The Brooklyn native has been the Dodgers’ №1 prospect for two consecutive seasons. He was also listed as the fourth overall prospect in baseball this year, per MLB Pipeline. De Paula also earned his second selection to the Futures Game in 2026.

He was also the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year and the Double-A Texas League Most Valuable Player.

“Our group has always known what he is capable of and to see it all come together for him, it was so much fun,” Rhymes said. “To see the joy he plays with, and that he was able to carry that to the big leagues under pressure as he debuted was incredible.”

Outfielder and №2 prospect Eduardo Quintero continued the trend of raising his on-base-plus-slugging percentage each year. He set a career high with a .941 OPS in 112 games in 2026.

He led the Midwest League with a .309 batting average, 107 runs and a .445 on-base percentage for the Loons. He ranked second with 123 hits and 28 doubles. He is playing outfield in the Arizona Fall League this year.

№3 prospect Mike Sirota ended his season in Oklahoma City after making his way through High-A Great Lakes and Double-A Tulsa to start the year.

Sirota slashed .307/.461/.526/.987 across the three levels, showing a disciplined approach at the plate. The 23-year-old has plus speed which allows him to extend hits for extra bases and cover more ground in the outfield.

Sirota was an on-base machine in 2026. He reached base safely in 72 consecutive games this past season.

Outfielder Charles Davalan ascended to Double-A in his first full professional season. He played in eight Single-A games last year, where he went 17-for-34 (.500), after he was selected in the 2025 MLB Draft.

Davalan, the Dodgers’ №6 overall prospect, posted a .291/.400/.532/.932 slash line between High-A and Double-A this season. He hit 24 home runs and 29 doubles while recording an impressive 10.7% strikeout rate (lowest in the organization). He was crowned the High-A Midwest League MVP.

Davalan played the entire season as an outfielder/designated hitter. He is playing second base in the prospect-heavy Arizona Fall League.

“We call him Chucky Barrels because he just stays on the sweet spot (of the bat),” Rhymes said. “The most unique part about him is that he doesn’t strike out and yet hits for power. It’s almost like the Dustin Pedroia profile, of someone who has more extra-base hits than strikeouts, which is extremely rare.”

There was also №7 prospect James Tibbs III, who vied for MVP honors in the Pacific Coast League with the Oklahoma City Comets. The 24-year-old became the second Minor Leaguer since 2005 to reach 100 RBI, runs and walks in the same season.

He has great plate discipline and sees the ball early as a left-handed hitter. Coupled with above-average bat speed and power, Tibbs III did major damage in the strike zone at the Triple-A level.

Tibbs III finished among the top 10 Triple-A hitters in walks (first, 108), extra-base hits (first, 65), runs (second, 109), RBI (second, 107), hits (third, 150), home runs (fourth, 30), on-base-plus-slugging percentage (fifth, .941), slugging (sixth, .532) and on-base percentage (seventh, .409).

This was also his first full season in the Dodger organization. He was acquired in a trade, along with outfielder Zach Ehrhard, that sent Dustin May to the Boston Red Sox on July 31, 2025.

“(Tibbs III) really put together a wire-to-wire year,” Rhymes said. “He arguably should have been the MVP of that league, and he certainly was one of the leaders who led (the Comets) to the championship. It was just a steady presence in the middle of the order and having over 100 RBI in a Minor League season is just being an impressive run producer.”

While the group of outfield prospects dominated the top levels of the Minors, there was a trio of infielders who made an impression.

Dodger №4 prospect Emil Morales hit .323/.385/.570/.955 in 36 games with Ontario before earning his promotion to Great Lakes on May 19. The shortstop/third baseman ended the second half of the season with a .321 batting average with the High-A Loons.

№9 prospect and third baseman Chase Harlan hit .298/.403/.509/.912. Infielder Easton Shelton, the №30 prospect, hit 37 home runs and had a 1.047 OPS with Single-A Ontario. Shelton was named the California League MVP.

Right-handed pitcher Christian Zazueta reached Double-A for the first time in five professional seasons this year with a midseason promotion from High-A Great Lakes to Tulsa. He posted a 3.65 ERA with 144 strikeouts and a 0.97 WHIP in 103 2/3 innings.

And at 21 years old, Zazueta (№5 prospect) is now a two-time recipient of the Branch Rickey Pitcher of the Year award.

Left-hander Zach Root (№8 prospect) and right-hander Cam Leiter (№16) made impressive professional debuts after being drafted by the Dodgers in 2025.

Root posted a 2.40 ERA in 15 starts in High-A ball with a 1.18 WHIP and 11.9 strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate. He finished the season in Tulsa.

Leiter had a 2.45 ERA in 55 innings across 21 starts between Single-A Ontario and High-A Great Lakes. He also didn’t give up any home runs.

Dodger prospects fuel a special season with growth and power was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Shohei Ohtani finishes second in the 2026 NL MVP balloting

by Cary Osborne

Shohei Ohtani’s second-place finish in the 2026 National League MVP balloting makes it the 26th time a Dodger has been a finalist (top three in voting).

Ohtani was vying for the 15th NL MVP in Dodger history and his third straight as a Dodger after winning the NL prize in 2024 and 2025.

This is also the 13th time in history that a Dodger has finished as the runner-up.

The Runners Up

Three Dodgers have been NL MVP runner-up twice.

Mookie Betts finished second in 2023 to Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. and also in 2020 to his future Dodger teammate Freddie Freeman (then with Atlanta).

Betts is in great company among Dodger greats who finished as runner-up twice.

1963 NL MVP Sandy Koufax finished twice — 1965 (San Francisco’s Willie Mays won) and 1966 (Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente).

Catcher Mike Piazza finished twice — 1996 (San Diego’s Ken Caminiti) and 1997 (Colorado’s Larry Walker).

Other runners-up include:
· 2011 — Matt Kemp
· 2004 — Adrian Beltre
· 1978 — Steve Garvey
· 1956 — Sal Maglie
· 1955 — Duke Snider
· 1946 — Dixie Walker
· 1941 — Pete Reiser 2

Runner-up to a … Dodger

There have been three occurrences when a Dodger has finished second to a Dodger. The last was in 1956 when pitcher Sal Maglie finished second to NL MVP Don Newcombe. Maglie also finished second to Newcombe for the Cy Young Award.

In 1955, catcher Roy Campanella beat out teammate and outfielder Duke Snider by the thin margin of five points — 226 to 221. It’s the ninth-closest margin in Major League MVP voting history.

In 1941, outfielder Pete Reiser finished second to his Dodger teammate first baseman Dolph Camilli. This is also the only year that Dodgers made up all the finalists. Pitcher Whit Wyatt finished third.

Reiser won the NL batting title that season. Camilli led the NL in home runs. Wyatt tied for the league lead in wins.

Finalist in a season when a Dodger won

Add those to this list: A Dodger who finished as a finalist in a Dodger MVP year.

· 1974 — Steve Garvey (winner), Mike Marshall (third place)
· 1962 — Maury Wills (winner), Tommy Davis (third)
· 1956 — Newcome (winner), Maglie (second)
· 1955 — Campanella (winner), Snider (second)
· 1953 — Campanella (winner), Snider (third)
· 1941 — Camilli (winner), Reiser (second), Wyatt (third)
· 1924 — Dazzy Vance (winner), Zack Wheat (third)

What a relief

It’s a major rarity for a pitcher to win an MVP award — it’s happened only four times. It’s also a rarity for a reliever to finish as a finalist. It hasn’t happened since 1992 when Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley won the 1992 AL MVP.

Marshall’s third-place finish in 1974 is the only time a Dodger reliever was a finalist in the NL MVP voting. Marshall’s consolation prize was the 1974 NL Cy Young Award.

Most times a finalist

Ohtani joins Koufax and Campanella for most times finishing in the top three. Each finished top three times. Campanella won the MVP each time — 1951, 1953, 1955.

Ohtani is the first to do it in three straight seasons — 2024, 2025, 2026.

A history of Dodgers MVP finalists was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Dodger Alumni helped service members and their families have a unique experience

by Megan Garcia

There was one thing that Alex Park, a Marine veteran, wanted to accomplish on Veteran’s Day. It didn’t matter how long it would be. He just needed to spend time with his nephew Clayton.

An afternoon where they could shag fly balls and take some swings at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium was the perfect fit. Park and his nephew — who was named after future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw — were among the hundreds who participated in the Dodgers’ Veterans Day batting practice event on Wednesday.

“I’ve been a Dodger fan for 20-plus years. I’ve been to many games, World Series games, but this is my first time for a veterans experience,” Park said. “To come out here with my nephew Clayton, this is everything for me.”

Park kept up with the Dodgers while serving two deployments to the Middle East between 2003 and 2009. His love of the Dodgers was passed down to his nephew, who happened to be born on Sept. 22 — like Kershaw’s No. 22 jersey number.

The Marine veteran chuckled at Clayton’s awe of his surroundings. He was still catching his breath after a bullpen session with Dennis Powell, a Dodger Alumnus, while he stood a few feet away from home plate and waited his turn to bat with former Dodger outfielder and Dodger Alumnus Billy Ashley.

While the day is dedicated to honor service members, Park wanted to create memories for Clayton that exemplified selfness instead.

“He doesn’t totally understand what being a veteran means, but I wanted to show him what it looks like,” Park said. “These veterans fought and served for our country. I’m pretty sure he’ll understand what this day was all about. It was seeing other fellow veterans, along with his uncle, being here at Dodger Stadium and getting to participate in this event. I think he’ll know the reason later on.”

Ashley grew up with similar values as his father was a Vietnam veteran.

“My dad built that sense of discipline in me, that if I was going to go after something, it wouldn’t be with half effort,” Ashley said. “It was going to be full bore.

“I got to hear the stories and it made me appreciate what he did for our country,” Ashley said. “I thank my lucky stars that I’m able to do this event every year. It’s a hard thing these service members do. They’re the ones with courage. We have to hit a baseball, and they had to dodge bullets.”

Orel Hershiser, a Legend of Dodger Baseball, was the master of ceremonies for the morning’s festivities. Hershiser took a moment to recognize the service members in attendance and spoke with them on field, thanking them for their efforts.

Hershiser reflected on why he was there.

“The name Hershiser is written in memorials in Washington D.C.,” Hershiser said. “I have family members who have lost their lives fighting for this country. I do this for them.”

Family takes center stage during Veterans Day at Dodger Stadium was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Guerrero was a hitting coach with the Marlins in 2025 and 2026

The Dodgers, on Tuesday, announced the addition of veteran Major League hitting coach Pedro Guerrero to their Major League coaching staff.

Guerrero will serve as a hitting coach with the Dodgers.

The 37-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Marlins in the same role. He served as an assistant hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants (2022–24) and Philadelphia Phillies (2018–21) and as the bench coach for the Rookie-Advanced Ogden (2016–17) prior to joining the Marlins in 2025.

During the 2026 season, the Marlins offense ranked in the Top 10 in the Majors in various categories, including on-base percentage (.320, 6th), batting average (.249, 7th), hits (1,347, 9th) and OPS (,727, 9th).

Guerrero spent his playing career in the Dodgers’ organization, playing 411 games from 2006–13. The infielder hit .236 with 23 homers and 163 RBI, reaching Triple-A Albuquerque in 2010. He was signed in 2006 out of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

Guerrero steps into a role previously held by Aaron Bates, who had been on the big league staff since 2019 and held the title of hitting coach from 2022–2026.

Dodgers add veteran coach Pedro Guerrero to hitting coach staff was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Executive VP receives “Shrine of the Eternals” award

by Mark Langill

Janet Marie Smith, Dodger Executive Vice President of Planning and Development, was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary ‘“Shrine of the Eternals” during a ceremony on Sunday at Whittier College.

Also honored in the organization’s Class of 2026 were Dodger Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella and former Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley.

Legend of Dodger Baseball Reggie Smith presented the award to Joni Campanella Roan, Campanella’s daughter.

Roy Campanella, a three-time National League MVP who was paralyzed in a 1958 automobile accident, passed away at age 71 in 1993.

Former Dodger executive Dr. Charles Steinberg, currently the president of the Worcester Red Sox and a colleague of Smith during their respective tenures at the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox, introduced Smith.

Steinberg gave insight to Smith’s innovation in her work on Orioles Park at Camden Yards, which created a paradigm shift of ballpark design, and the renovation of Fenway Park when the nearly 100-year-old facility was facing a potential teardown.

Smith joined the Dodgers in 2012, and her renovations at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium included a “front door” to a new Centerfield Plaza, along with statues honoring Dodger Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax.

Smith in 2026 also received the Dorothy Seymour Mills Lifetime Achivement Award from the Society of Baseball Research (SABR).

“One of the things I’ve enjoyed working for the Dodgers is that institutions don’t really have memories, but this one does,” Smith said. “And I think it’s not just about baseball, it’s about America. It’s about the cultural evolution of America. The Dodgers have ‘firsts’ that range from Jackie Robinson to Sandy Koufax, Fernando Valenzuela and Hideo Nomo.”

Author Phil Dixon received the Tony Salin Award for his research and oral histories of the Negro Leagues. In his acceptance speech, Dixon thanked Smith for being a childhood inspiration. As a rookie with the 1967 Red Sox, Smith spoke to Dixon’s youth baseball team in Los Angeles and was awestruck months later when Smith was playing in the World Series.

Dodger broadcaster Charley Steiner and author Jane Leavy delivered the keynote address during a conversation covering baseball’s past and present. They recalled their own childhood links to baseball; Steiner rooting for the Brooklyn Dodgers while Leavy chose the New York Yankees.

Jade Van Kley, a baseball content creator on Instagram, received the Reliquary’s “Hilda Award,” named after longtime Brooklyn Dodger fan and Ebbets Field fixture Hilda Chester.

The Reliquary also paid tribute to the memory of Fred Claire, a 30-year member of the Dodger front office and a longtime patron of the fan-based organization who passed away on his 91st birthday on Oct. 5.

Janet Marie Smith honored by Baseball Reliquary was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Dodger player breakthroughs, historical seasons, turnarounds and more

by Cary Osborne

The 2026 season was a breakthrough year for some Dodgers, a season of change for others, and historic for a handful.

Let’s get into it, as we look at three Dodgers who fit in all those categories and more.

3 Dodgers Who Had Big Growth:
Pages, Wrobleski, Henriquez

Andy Pages turned in a 6.0 bWAR (Baseball Reference Wins Above Replacement) season — despite missing a month with a broken hand. The Dodgers have had eight 6.0 bWAR seasons by an outfielder in the last 37 years — so it’s not that often that we see a year like the one Pages had.

Pages, a first-time All-Star in 2026 was also a Gold Glove Award finalist in center field where he led the Majors in outfield assists (14). The third-year player accomplished career bests in runs (75), triples (two), walks (49), OPS+ (122) and all slash line categories (.274/.343/.468/.811).

Speaking of All-Stars, left-handed pitcher Justin Wrobleski was one of the biggest surprise All-Stars of 2026, considering he wasn’t in the Dodger starting rotation in 2025 and didn’t have a defined role as of Opening Day 2026. He established one quickly.

Wrobleski was 10–2 with a 2.69 ERA in the first half of 2026 as a vital member of the rotation. He ended up going 12–5 with a 3.66 ERA as his role evolved into a spot starter/long reliever in September and into the postseason.

Hard-throwing right-hander Edgardo Henriquez threw the third-most pitches of 100-mph or faster in the Majors in 2026. But the bigger thing is that he pitched his first full Major League season and earned his way into a high-leverage role in a talented Dodger bullpen.

Henriquez jumped from 22 appearances in 2025 to a career-high 61 in 2026 (including 23 categorized as high leverage by Baseball Reference). His .177 opponents’ batting average was fifth-lowest and his .523 opponents’ OPS was sixth-lowest in the Majors among relievers with at least 60 appearances. He also had a 2.85 ERA.

3 Dodgers Who Enhanced Legacies:
Muncy, Ohtani, Yamamoto

Max Muncy, who turned 36 on Aug. 25, was an All-Star for the third time in his career. He ended the season with 29 homers and now has 238 in his Dodger career. He was a Gold Glove finalist at third base — making this arguably the most complete season of his Dodger career. Muncy is also a Silver Slugger Award finalist.

Muncy now ranks fifth in franchise history in home runs and second in Los Angeles Dodgers history, trailing only Eric Karros (270).

Muncy also added three more postseason home runs to his franchise-leading total, which is now 19.

Before the injuries started to change Shohei Ohtani’s season, we have to remember a few things. Ohtani was in the NL Cy Young Award conversation midway through the season. He went 8–2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings.

Ohtani is an NL MVP award finalist. The combination of a 30-home run season and his pitching statistics make it a singular season in Dodger history.

Ohtani now has 139 home runs over three seasons with the Dodgers. It’s the most by a Dodger in a three-year span.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has 76 starts with the Dodgers through his first three seasons and has a 2.61 ERA. Only Orel Hershiser had a better ERA through his first 76 Dodger starts beginning his Major League career at 2.57.

Yamamoto set career highs in bWAR (5.9), wins (14), innings pitched (185) and WHIP (0.87) and had a 2.53 ERA in 2026. After winning Game 3 of the 2026 NL Division Series against the Braves, he has a career 8–1 record in 11 postseason starts.

Let’s go three more:
Freeman, Betts, Rojas

Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts continue to build onto their Hall of Fame resumes.

Freeman was an All-Star for the fifth time in five seasons as a Dodger.

He passed 2,500 hits in 2026 (he now has 2,598). He ranks 75th all time with 383 home runs. He ranks 24th with 579 doubles. He is 41st with 996 extra-base hits.

Betts added 3.9 bWAR to his career total in 2026. He’s now at 79.0, which puts him at 69th in Major League history. Betts reached the 300-home run milestone in 2026.

He’s on pace to reach 2,000-hit, 1,000-RBI and 200-stolen base milestones in 2027.

Miguel Rojas leaves the game with a personal milestone, reaching 1,000 career hits. But the statistics don’t really tell the story.

Rojas was a gamer — willing to help the team in any capacity, willing to play hurt, eager to support the greater cause. He is one of two Dodgers all time to win the Roy Campanella Award (the organization’s most inspirational player) three times, joining Justin Turner. Rojas is the first to win it three consecutive seasons.

3 Dodger Turnarounds:
Scott, Betts, Sasaki

Among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched in 2025 and 2026, Tanner Scott’s -2.05 difference in ERA from 2025 ranked 11th-best in the Major Leagues. Scott improved in nearly every statistical category with one of the biggest jumps in his save-conversion percentage: 70% in 2025 (23/33) to 86% in 2026 (25/29).

Betts is on here for his impressive in-season turnaround. On Aug. 4, he had a .670 OPS and 1.0 fWAR. The 1.0 tied him for 169th among position players.

From Aug. 5, till the end of the season, he was the fourth most valuable player in the Majors by measure of Fangraphs’ wins above replacement at 2.7. The only players above him were Pete Crow-Armstrong (3.6), Alex Bregman (3.1) and Fernando Tatis Jr. (2.9).

Betts ended up ranking tied-for-39th with a 3.7 fWAR.

Roki Sasaki ranked second on the Dodgers in starts (23) after making eight in 2025. His walk rate went down (-4.5%) and strikeout rate went up (+6.2%). Whiff% (+7.6%) and first-strike% rates (+2.5%) also went up.

3 Dodgers who could have a different 2027:
Tucker, Snell, Diaz

Kyle Tucker was the Dodgers’ best hitter in the postseason. He reached base in all eight Dodger postseason games and batted .333/.419/.519/.938 in 31 plate appearances. From Sept. 9 till the end of the regular season, he batted .333/.406/.667/1.072 in 69 plate appearances.

The other 558 plate appearances mostly shaped his season.

The player we saw over the last month, though, is much closer to who Tucker has been his whole career. He’ll be 30 on Opening Day.

Blake Snell was outstanding in his nine regular-season starts this season (a 1.90 ERA) and the same in 2025 (2.35 ERA). But in four previous seasons, he averaged 26 starts per year. Snell talked about, late in the season, how the injured-list stints of the past two seasons have been frustrating. He is a two-time Cy Young Award winner with stuff that is on par with his 2018 and 2023 seasons. And he is driven to once again win the award. Could 2027 be the year?

Edwin Díaz was hurt, then ineffective, then found himself at the right time late in the season and into the postseason. He is not an 8.68-ERA reliever — not even close.

Over his last nine appearances (five regular season and four postseason), he allowed one earned run and three hits with 14 strikeouts in 11 innings.

There’s a very interesting pattern that follows Díaz through his career. Coincidence or not, since 2018, he has had a sub-2.00 ERA one year and a 3+ ERA the next year (he missed the 2023 season with an injury).

The pattern would have him along the line of these seasons:
· 2018: 1.96 ERA
· 2019: 5.59 ERA
· 2020: 1.75 ERA
· 2021: 3.45 ERA
· 2022: 1.31 ERA
· 2024: 3.52 ERA
· 2025: 1.63 ERA
· 2026: 8.68 ERA
· 2027: ???

The 2026 Dodger season in trios was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Blake Snell and Emmet Sheehan helped LADF break ground for fields impacted by Eaton Fire

by Megan Garcia

The shovels that pierced the Altadena ground Thursday afternoon signified the start of a new chapter at Charles S. Farnsworth Park, nearly two years after the Eaton Fire ravaged it.

Now, with Dodgers Dreamfields 69 and 70 breaking ground, residents — with the help of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation — are reclaiming a piece of Altadena’s history, identity and future.

The $1.4 million project, in partnership with the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, will restore two fields and expand opportunities for recreation, learning and community as Altadena continues its recovery efforts.

Dodger pitchers Blake Snell and Emmet Sheehan helped break ground with LADF and community partners. Snell was taken aback by the neighborhoods’ development since he last visited the area during the Dodgers’ 2025 Love L.A. Community Tour.

“I couldn’t even imagine what they went through,” Snell said. “I read about it and heard about it. I heard what people had to say today. You feel for them. Your heart goes out to them. This is definitely a big deal and a big step and something that can really help them.

“I’m so excited for the community. The baseball field is everything to me. For these kids to be able to have fun and let loose is a big deal, and the Dodgers are going to do it the right way. They always do, and that’s why I’m happy to be here.”

Dodgers Dreamfields 69 and 70 will support baseball and softball programming for youth ages 5–12 and provide open recreational access for youth and teens up to age 18. Planned upgrades include new irrigation systems, improved playing surfaces, fencing and solar-powered scoreboards reminiscent of those at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium.

The project will also feature improved batting cages and a permanent, self-guided STEM Trail connecting the upper and lower fields through interactive learning moments that incorporate LADF’s Science of Baseball curriculum and the park’s natural environment.

“As Altadena continues to recover and rebuild, we are proud to partner with LA County Parks to help bring Farnsworth Park back to the community,” said Nichol McKenzie-Whiteman, Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “The two new Dodgers Dreamfields and STEM Trail will create opportunities for young people to play, learn and grow while supporting the restoration of a place that has meant so much to generations of Altadena families.”

Adding Dodgers Dreamfields 69 and 70 marks the next phase in returning vital recreation and community programming for Altadena families. The Charles S. Farnsworth Park is a historic Altadena landmark and was among the sites severely impacted by wildfires.

The nearly 15-acre park sustained significant losses, including utility buildings and offices. Other amenities were damaged, including its amphitheater, a playground, and critical power and water infrastructure.

Now, the community will get to play baseball once again, sooner rather than later.

“Growing up on a field like this was some of the most important, most memorable days of my life,” Sheehan said. “We came here a couple years ago pretty soon after the fires. To see the rebuilding and how different it is from that makes me really proud and grateful to be able to represent a community like this.”

Since 2003, LADF has invested more than $21.3 million in 68 Dodgers Dreamfields. With the groundbreaking of Dreamfields 69 and 70, LADF continues advancing toward its commitment to complete 75 Dodgers Dreamfields by 2028.

Altadena reclaims part of itself with new Dodgers Dreamfields was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Former Dodger pitcher to receive Sports Pioneer Medal

by Mark Langill

Former Dodger pitcher Hideo Nomo, whose 1995 National League Rookie of the Year season paved the way for future Japanese stars in the Major Leagues, will be honored Thursday night at the 22nd annual Asian Hall of Fame induction ceremony at a private venue in downtown Los Angeles.

Former Dodger president Peter O’Malley will present Nomo with the Hall of Fame’s inaugural Sports Pioneer Medal.

When O’Malley signed Nomo prior to the 1995 season, no Japanese player from the country’s professional leagues had played in the Major Leagues since left-handed pitcher Masanori Murakami of the 1964–65 San Francisco Giants.

Nomo previously pitched for the Kintetsu Buffaloes from 1990 to 1994 before retiring from Japanese baseball to pursue his dream of pitching in the Majors.

Nomo became a worldwide sensation in 1995, posting a 13–6 record and 2.54 ERA in 28 games with a National League-leading 236 strikeouts. He became the first rookie to start an All-Star Game since the Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.

Nomo had two tenures with the Dodgers from 1995–1998 and 2002–2004. Overall, he spent 12 seasons in the Majors with seven teams, winning 123 games.

In 191 games with the Dodgers, Nomo went 81–66 with a 3.74 ERA, including a no-hitter against the Rockies in 1996, which remains the only no-hitter in the history of Colorado’s Coors Field.

Hideo Nomo to be honored by Asian Hall of Fame was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Max Muncy, Shohei Ohtani and the Dodger offense are NL Silver Slugger finalists

It would be Muncy’s first Silver Slugger, Ohtani’s fifth, team’s third

by Senji Torrey

Max Muncy and Shohei Ohtani are 2026 National League Silver Slugger finalists after impactful seasons at the plate.

The Dodger offense is also up for Offensive Team of the Year thanks to contributions throughout the lineup. Los Angeles won the team award in 2024 and 2025.

This is Muncy’s fourth time as a Silver Slugger finalist and Ohtani’s sixth.

Muncy has never won the award. He was previously a finalist at first base in 2021 and at third base in 2023 and 2025.

Ohtani has won the award four times. He won in the American League in 2021 and 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels and in the NL in 2024 and 2025 with the Dodgers.

Muncy led all NL third basemen with a .490 slugging percentage, an .838 OPS, a 128 OPS+ and 129 wRC+ (weighted runs created plus) this season, while his 29 home runs sit one behind San Diego’s Manny Machado and Arizona’s Nolan Arenado for the NL lead.

The 36-year-old set career highs in doubles (27) and games played (149) in 2026.

Chicago’s Alex Bregman completes the NL third baseman Silver Slugger category. Bregman led all NL third basemen in RBI (93) and runs (92).

The 32-year-old Ohtani led all NL designated hitters across the slash line categories (.275/.377/.512/.889), as well as OPS+ (143) and wRC+ (139) this season. He also ranked second in home runs (30) and total bases (268) behind Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber.

Schwarber joins Ohtani in the NL designated hitter Silver Slugger competition. Schwarber led NL designated hitters with 298 total bases, while racking up a MLB-best 45 homers alongside Chicago center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Muncy and Ohtani’s contributions helped the Dodger offense to a .251/.339/.428/.767 slash line. The latter two figures rank second in MLB, while the first two rank third.

The Dodgers ranked second in wRC+ (111), tied for fourth in home runs (204), fourth in runs (801).

The Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers round out the list for the NL.

Max Muncy and Shohei Ohtani are NL Silver Slugger finalists was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Ohtani has won a league MVP in four of the last five seasons

by Senji Torrey

Shohei Ohtani is a league Most Valuable Player of the Year finalist for the sixth straight season and the third time in as many seasons as a Dodger.

The 2024 and 2025 National League MVP is a finalist for the 2026 award with Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang.

Crow-Armstrong led the Majors in Wins Above Replacement (10.6 Fangraphs WAR/9.8 Baseball Reference) and Turang ranked third in National League bWAR at 7.3.

Ohtani had another special season as a two-way player, hitting 30 home runs with a .275/.377/.512/.889 slash line at the plate and an 8–2 record with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 14 starts on the mound. Ohtani dealt with right biceps and left knee injuries that impacted his season. He didn't make a pitching start after July 3.

Ohtani’s 1.79 ERA and .180 opponents’ batting average in the first half ranked second among National League pitchers with at least 85 innings pitched. His 0.95 WHIP ranked fourth in the NL.

His .889 OPS ranked third in the NL this season, with his .512 slugging percentage putting him fifth. His 143 OPS+ ranked fifth in the NL.

Ohtani had an overall fWAR of 6.6 and a bWAR of 6.5.

Ohtani won American League MVP awards with the Angels in 2021 and 2023. He is vying to become the second player in Major League history to win at least five MVP awards. Barry Bonds won seven.

Shohei Ohtani named a finalist for NL MVP was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.