3 under-the-radar value options for Dodgers in 2026 MLB Draft

The Dodgers are entering the 2026 MLB Draft with far less flexibility than most organizations. After signing multiple qualifying-offer free agents and exceeding the second surcharge threshold of the competitive-balance tax, Los Angeles currently owns MLB’s smallest draft bonus pool at roughly $3.95 million and hold just six picks through the first 10 rounds, with pick 40 and 132 being their two highest.

Rather than aggressively chasing multiple overslot talents early, this feels like the type of year where Los Angeles may need to identify developmental value deeper into Day 2 — athletes, pitch-trait arms and overlooked profiles capable of outperforming their eventual draft slot.

How the Dodgers could find value despite MLB’s smallest draft pool

Because Los Angeles lacks early-round volume, this draft may become more about projection and player development than pure draft status. The Dodgers already possess one of baseball’s strongest systems for optimizing athletes, pitch traits and offensive adjustments. That creates opportunities later in the draft for players who may carry flaws, inconsistencies or signability questions despite obvious upside.

LJ Mercurius, RHP, Oklahoma

Oklahoma right-hander LJ Mercurius feels like the kind of developmental upside arm that could make a tremendous amount of sense around the Dodgers’ No. 132 selection. The 6-foot-2 right-hander transferred from UNLV to Oklahoma and flashed legitimate swing-and-miss stuff early in the season, particularly over his first several starts. At his best, Mercurius showed a fastball sitting in the mid-90s paired with a changeup that already looks capable of missing bats at the next level.

There is also real athletic bloodline upside attached to the profile. His younger brother, Xander Mercurius, is already drawing attention at Oklahoma for upper-90s velocity and electric raw stuff, which only reinforces the type of athleticism and arm talent present in the family.

The draft industry seems somewhat split on exactly where LJ belongs. MLB Pipeline ranked him No. 127 overall, while Perfect Game placed him at No. 149 and ESPN left him outside its top 150 entirely. That variation creates the possibility that he could realistically still be available around the Dodgers’ second selection.

Jaxon Jelkin, RHP, Kentucky

Kentucky Friday-night starter Jaxon Jelkin feels like one of the more fascinating developmental bets in this draft class. Jelkin is older than many pitchers in the class, has transferred multiple times and carries some injury ambiguity in his background, all of which likely contribute to why he has slid down portions of the draft board despite obvious ability. But when watching him pitch, the raw stuff is much louder than where his current draft perception may suggest (Perfect Game has him at No. 213 overall).

The right-hander can run his fastball into the upper 90s, touching 98mph at times, and the velocity plays even better because of the way he sequences and competes on the mound. What became especially interesting this season, though, was the refinement of the harder slider-cutter shape in the low 90s. Once that pitch started becoming more consistent, it felt like Jelkin settled into himself more confidently as a starter.

The pitch gave him another weapon capable of missing bats while also helping him navigate deeper into games against SEC lineups. That combination of velocity, pitchability and improved secondary feel is what makes him such an intriguing fit for a team like the Dodgers.

Jelkin’s age and medical history may scare off some organizations looking for cleaner upside plays, but Los Angeles is one of the few teams positioned to potentially maximize a pitcher like this quickly. Because of his experience level and polish, Jelkin could theoretically move through a farm system much faster than many younger developmental arms available in this range, and he reminds me a lot of Rick Porcello, which would be some tremendous upside.

Sean Duncan, LHP, Terry Fox Secondary School (BC)

Canadian left-hander Sean Duncan remains one of the more intriguing projection bets tied to this portion of the draft. Perfect Game highlighted Duncan’s mid-90s fastball, advanced changeup feel and slider with quality two-plane movement, and recently he has started catching real helium throughout the industry as evaluators continue pushing him higher up boards. That rise may ultimately force the Dodgers to consider him much earlier than originally expected — potentially even at No. 40 rather than No. 132 or beyond. But every draft also produces unexpected slides.

If teams ahead of Los Angeles cool slightly on the profile because of signability concerns or prep-pitching volatility, Duncan could become exactly the type of upside arm the Dodgers take a run at later than expected. The athleticism, projection and movement traits all fit the type of developmental bet Los Angeles has historically been comfortable making.

And in a draft where the Dodgers lack the bonus-pool flexibility to dominate the top of the board, finding one high-upside player who unexpectedly slips could become one of the most important parts of the Dodgers’ entire strategy.

The Dodgers may not have the financial flexibility to overwhelm this draft class early, but that has rarely stopped Los Angeles from identifying value where other organizations hesitate. With fewer premium selections available, this year’s draft could ultimately come down to whether the Dodgers correctly identify one or two developmental upside bets capable of dramatically outperforming their eventual draft slot.

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