Left-hander Jackson Ferris has had just four baserunners and no runs over 2-2/3 innings this spring while working with a versatile five-pitch mix.
The way the Dodgers have spent money in recent years, one area that often gets overlooked is their ability to draft, trade for and develop prospects. The Dodgers boast five prospects in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 rankings, tied for third-most among teams.
The group includes four outfielders — Josue De Paula , Zyhir Hope , Eduardo Quintero and Mike Sirota — in the top 60. Two of those prospects, De Paula and Quintero, were international signings, and the other two, Hope and Sirota, were acquired via trade. Sirota came over in last year’s trade that sent Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds. A year earlier, the club acquired Hope and promising young pitcher Jackson Ferris from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for infielder Michael Busch and right-hander Yency Almonte, who recently returned to the Dodgers on a minor league contract. Ferris, who pitched 1-2/3 scoreless innings in his second Cactus League start Saturday in the Dodgers’ 7-6 split-squad loss to the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium, noticed the contrast going from the Cubs to the Dodgers. “It was different,” Ferris said last month at his locker at Camelback Ranch. “It was honestly a breath of fresh air. Getting to know these coaches, they just understand exactly what they wanted for me and how they were going to go about it. “It was cool to see how different things were. The Cubs a great organization, good minor league system and everything, it was crazy to see how different the Cubs are from the Dodgers. The Dodgers are just as good, if not better, at everything in the minor leagues and in the big leagues.” Ferris arrived at Cubs minor league camp in early January 2024, ready to get to work. A few days later, he was surprised when the team told him he had been traded. “I definitely wasn’t expecting it after only throwing like 55-ish innings in my first year and doing well,” Ferris said. “So, I didn’t really know how to react. The Cubs coaches were talking highly of the Dodgers coaches, so then I was pretty excited.” Ferris credits the Dodgers for being more detail-oriented than the Cubs and helping him improve as a pitcher. “It was my first year of pro ball, so maybe it was just like being a high schooler, I didn’t necessarily get a whole lot of coaching,” Ferris said of his time with the Cubs. “I’d say it was more like, ‘Go out there and let’s just see how you do in your first year.’ Whereas whenever I came here, they studied my throw, everything and it was like, ‘Here, we think these drills are going to help you,’ and we just kind of took off in our first year of being here.” That season, Ferris posted a 3.20 ERA across 27 starts between high-A Great Lakes and double-A Tulsa, earning minor league pitcher of the year honors from the organization. Last year, Ferris logged a 3.86 ERA across 26 games and 126 innings at double-A Tulsa. This year Ferris could be knocking on the door of a big-league promotion. He’s impressed through his first two Cactus League starts, with just four baserunners and no runs over 2-2/3 innings, while working with a versatile five-pitch mix that features a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a “bullet slider,” a straight changeup and a 12-to-6 curveball. “I like Jackson,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said recently. “I like the player. He’s a good kid. A lot of talent. I think for me, it’s just trying to harness his arsenal. It’s a good fastball. He needs to continue to get ahead, be able to put hitters away with the secondary pitches, be efficient with his pitches per inning, but I like Jackson.” Shortstop Mookie Betts played in his first spring training game Sunday, reaching on a fielder's choice and grounding out in two at-bats while scoring a run in the Dodgers' 4-3 win over the Angels at Camelback Ranch. 'I know I had an 0-for-2, but I got two good swings,' Betts said after he was lifted from the game. 'I was prepared, I was ready to go. Couldn't ask for anything more than what I've been doing.' Left-hander Alex Vesia pitched a scoreless fourth inning, striking out the side. Vesia has struck out five of the nine batters he has faced across three appearances this spring.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Cubs Face Dodgers in Split-Squad Spring Training MatchupThe Chicago Cubs will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in a split-squad spring training game in Glendale, Arizona. The Dodgers are coming off their first loss, while the Cubs are riding a win. The article provides details on the starting pitcher, injuries, and the upcoming exhibition schedule.
Read more »
Blake Snell's Plan for Remainder of Spring TrainingDodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed what had become apparent for Blake Snell this spring.
Read more »
Was Dodgers-Rangers a World Series matchup or something else?Rangers President Chris Young spent the offseason reluctantly shedding payroll from a losing team, dismissing Marcus Semien, Adolis Garcia and Jonah Heim from...
Read more »
Dodgers’ Tanner Scott, having ‘flushed’ last year, ready for a new seasonThe left-hander, who says ‘a lot of things were not going right for me last year’ after signing a major 4-year deal, aims to throw fewer ‘hittable’ strikes.
Read more »
Which Dodgers Prospects Actually Matter in 2026Overview of which Dodgers prospects are likely to join the team at some point during the 2026 MLB season.
Read more »
Dodgers come from behind to beat Angels in Cactus LeagueDodgers prospect James Tibbs III had a home run to tie the game in the sixth inning. Zyhir Hope, Griffin Lockwood-Powell and Kyle Nevin had three consecutive singles to take the lead in the seventh…
Read more »