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De Paula breaking out, Tibbs dominant, Root emerging, Harlan slugging, 6 IFA signings (one touches 100 MPH), more – Dodgers Digest

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De Paula breaking out, Tibbs dominant, Root emerging, Harlan slugging, 6 IFA signings (one touches 100 MPH), more – Dodgers Digest

Top Farm Batter

James Tibbs III is looking like he’s too good for Triple-A. Over the last 30 days, he’s posted a 1.108 OPS with six home runs, all of which have come over his last six games. Tibbs has been limited to DH duties recently, but his 17 home runs and 1.085 OPS on the season both lead the system.

There was plenty of chatter when Teoscar Hernandez suffered a hamstring injury for Tibbs to make his MLB debut, but the Dodgers brought up Ryan Ward instead. Unfortunately for Tibbs, he is still down on the big league depth chart, and there might not be much he can do to work up that list if everyone gets healthy.

Either way, Tibbs is doing his job by destroying the PCL and developing what he can; after posting a 29% strikeout rate through April, the former Florida State Seminole cut his rate down to 21% in May. Once he gets back to playing right field and first base, he will stand as depth for a potential call-up in the case of an injury to Kyle Tucker or Freddie Freeman.

Top Farm Pitcher

After a rough first couple starts to open the year, Zach Root completely flipped the script in May. Last year’s 40th overall pick allowed only three hits across 12 innings while mowing down batters to a 45% strikeout rate. Root’s stuff has taken a huge jump compared to where it was at Arkansas last year, and although his command has regressed as a result, that exchange seems to be working out well.

Root showed off a fastball that touched 99 mph in the Spring Breakout game this year, which was the first time he’d been in the public eye since last year’s draft. He has an absolute hammer curveball to go with that four-seamer, with his total arsenal expanding out to five pitches.

With a successful college career to work from, the Dodgers sent Root straight to High-A to make his professional debut and he has responded well. The 22-year-old southpaw could be a relatively fast mover if he is throwing enough strikes with his newfound high-octane stuff. If his results hold, he could be pitching in Double-A before the end of the season.

Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets

River Ryan has been electric in Triple-A since returning from injury. He’s totaled 15 innings across three starts, allowing one earned run with only one walk and 19 strikeouts. At this point, Ryan is ready to make an impact the big leagues, and the only hold-up with promoting him will come from the Dodgers being careful about managing his build-up and projecting his overall workload for the rest of the season.

Defensive stud shortstop Noah Miller has found success with the bat this year, which should immediately turn heads. After posting a 73 wRC+ last year, the former minor league Gold Glove Award winner has slashed .272/.357/.441 in Triple-A this season, turning in a .798 OPS. The 23-year-old is productive enough defensively that he could’ve been a big leaguer even with his previous offensive struggles, but if he can be anywhere near average in the box, he could develop an everyday future.

Double-A Tulsa Drillers

Josue De Paula is dominating his first full chance in Double-A, passing the most difficult jump in the minor leagues with flying colors. Despite being more than three years younger than the average Texas Leaguer, De Paula has a 159 wRC+ with eight homers, 16 stolen bases and more walks than strikeouts.

There is not a single negative aspect of his performance so far; his power production has increased while his strikeout rate has dropped all the way to 13%. De Paula has a remarkably high offensive ceiling, and his performance so far this year has done nothing but reaffirm his status as a blue-chip talent.

Elijah Hainline flies under-the-radar in a stacked Dodgers system, but he has been one of the best offensive performers in the organization since being drafted in the seventh round in 2024. He’s made the jump to Double-A this season, posting a 138 wRC+ and .873 OPS across 44 games. Hainline makes highlight plays defensively across the infield as well and is an interesting name to keep an eye on either to compete for regular at-bats or for a utility role in a couple years.

High-A Great Lakes Loons

Eduardo Quintero started the season pretty slow, but he’s gotten it going as the weather has warmed up. Across his last 24 games, the 20-year-old center fielder has slashed .396/.518/.516, showing off his superb on-base ability. He’s also stolen 21 bases in that span. Quintero is a dynamic athlete and has one of the highest ceilings in the system.

Jacob Frost has had a good start to his pro career, pitching to a 2.38 ERA with a 35% strikeout rate in 34 innings for the Loons. Drafted in the 10th round last year out of Kansas State, Frost is a former community college southpaw who came out of college with a solid changeup and slider.

Single-A Ontario Tower Buzzers

Chase Harlan has had a monster season so far, cutting his strikeout rate by nearly 10% from last year while slugging .548 and walking at a 17% clip. At just 19 years old, Harlan already hits for power with ease, and he has some frame left to fill out. If his bat-to-ball progression holds, he could soon be knocking on the door of the Top 100 prospects list.

Cam Leiter had not appeared in a game since 2024 when the Dodgers took him in the second round last year. He’s made his return from shoulder rehab and has been excellent in Single-A this season, posting a 2.79 ERA, stellar 35% strikeout rate and manageable 10% walk rate. Leiter has big-time stuff that could carry a high ceiling if he stays healthy and throws strikes.

Rookie Ball

The Arizona Complex League has gotten going, and infielders Daniel Mielcarek and Aidan West have stood out so far. Mielcarek has a 1.085 OPS with four homers in 17 games; West, who was a fourth round pick last year, has slashed .269/.377/.577 in his first professional action.

Additionally, the Dodgers made six international signings last week ahead of the Dominican Summer League getting underway. They’re all teenage right-handed pitchers: Francisco Tavarez, Ismanuel Rondon, Geferlyn Avelino, Jesus Garcia and Nehemias Valdez were all signed on Friday, with Androu Gabriel getting inked on Sunday. There isn’t much in terms of info on the group, but Josh posted video of Gabriel, who is listed a 6-foot-7, 211 pounds, already touching triple digits on his fastball.

the Dodgers just signed another IFA kid, Androu Gabriel, a 19 yo out of the Dominican Republiclisted at 6’7, 211 lbs, he’s already up to 100 with the fb, and he has been added to the roster of the DSL Dodgers Mega squadDSL opening day is Monday, June 1st

— Josh Thomas (@joshthomas.bsky.social) 2026-05-30T19:42:35.199Z

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