The Los Angeles Dodgers may soon see the payoff from the Michael Busch trade. LA isn't losing sleep over Busch's success with the Chicago Cubs; he was never going to unseat Freddie Freeman or Max Muncy in the infield, and they managed to net two top prospects from the Cubs. Outfielder Zyhir Hope quickly moved to the top of their prospect rankings, and starting pitcher Jackson Ferris is one step closer to the major league level.
Ferris was promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday and made his debut with the affiliate. He was the Dodgers' Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season, posting a 3.20 ERA in 126 innings pitched at the Double-A level while striking out over 24% of the hitters he faced.
Jackson Ferris, the top left-handed pitching prospect in the #Dodgers organization, has joined OKC and will make his season and Triple-A debut tonight.
— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) April 7, 2026
Was org's Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2024 and last year ranked in org's top 3 in starts, IP, ERA, BAA, and K.
Being only 22 years old, the Dodgers are still going to be mindful of his innings. In his Triple-A debut, he was taken out during the fourth inning after giving up two runs on three hits and one walk. He also struck out two of the 13 hitters he faced.
Jackson Ferris could be an under-the-radar option for the Dodgers' pitching staff before the end of the season.
Anytime a top pitching prospect reaches Triple-A, the immediate question is: how long will they stay? No, even with the early promotion, Dave Roberts and Co. likely aren't ticketing big-league innings for Ferris this season. Ferris spent the entire 2025 season at the Double-A level, and the Dodgers may want to have the same blueprint for his run in Triple-A this season.
Of course, the one thing that can't exactly be accounted for is injuries. For now, the Dodgers' pitching staff is surprisingly healthy to start the year. Blake Snell opened the season on the IL, but it's not anything the team is overly concerned about.
A far cry from where they were last season, when they were leaving no stone unturned to add pitching depth. If a similar scenario unfolds for the Dodgers this season, then, sure, Ferris could be the "in case of an emergency, break glass" option for the team's pitching staff.
For now, Ferris will find his footing with the Comets over the next month or two. Perhaps by the All-Star break, the conversation surrounding his potential debut shifts.
