Dodgers prospects who could be next in line
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This story was excerpted from Juan Toribio’s Dodgers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
LOS ANGELES -- With Emmet Sheehan and Bryan Hudson making their respective debuts over the weekend, the Dodgers have now seen seven farm hands make their Major League debuts this season.
Miguel Vargas, Michael Grove and James Outman made their debuts last season, but are still rookies. At times over the weekend, the Dodgers had five rookies playing at the same time, almost an entirely different team than the one Los Angeles fielded last season.
As young as the Dodgers are already, they still have a few more candidates in the Minors who could potentially be up in The Show at some point in 2023. Let’s take a look at three Minor Leaguers who have a chance to contribute in the Majors.
1. RHP Landon Knack
The common belief around the organization is that Knack is next in line to make his debut this season. Los Angeles has not been shy about giving young starters a shot this season and Knack has earned an extended look with a strong 2023.
Knack, the Dodgers' No. 18 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was quite dominant in Double-A Tulsa, posting a 2.20 ERA over 12 starts. The 25-year-old earned a promotion to Triple-A OKC thanks to those numbers. He allowed three runs over 2 2/3 innings in his debut last week.
Knack, of course, has some other young pitchers ahead of him in Grove, Sheehan and maybe even Gavin Stone, though he’s had a forgettable season in the Minors. But if the Dodgers need more pitching help later in the season, Knack could get his number called.
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2. C Hunter Feduccia
Feduccia has impressed in Spring Training over the past few seasons, and now the 26-year-old is starting to open eyes with his production with Triple-A OKC this season. Feduccia, a 12th round pick in 2018, is hitting .274 with five homers in 42 games this season. His .840 OPS would be a career high.
The one thing preventing Feduccia from making an impact in the Majors is that he’s a catcher. The Dodgers, of course, have star catcher Will Smith on the roster and Austin Barnes, who has struggled at the plate all season but is a favorite among the pitching staff.
Feduccia’s time would only come in the event of an injury, which obviously wouldn’t be a good thing for the big league club. But if they do need a catcher, Feduccia is the name to watch, not top prospect Diego Cartaya.
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3. Take your pick down in Tulsa
The starting rotation at Double-A Tulsa has been a hot talking point this season. It has been one of the most dominant rotations in the Minors, regardless of the level. Sheehan just proved how good that rotation is, going straight from Tulsa to the big leagues and tossing six hitless innings in his debut.
Sheehan isn’t the only one down there who has flashed impressive stuff. River Ryan, Nick Nastrini, Kyle Hurt and Nick Frasso are some of the top prospects down in Tulsa. With how aggressive the Dodgers have been this season, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see another pitcher from this list make his debut.