Ignored prospects could get their moments, but Dodgers risk facing familiar problems

When the Dodgers added longtime minor league outfielder and 2025 Pacific Coast League MVP Ryan Ward to the 40-man roster on Nov. 6, it was a shock to fans that were calling for the team to promote him basically all season. Michael Conforto quickly made it very clear the Dodgers couldn't count on him to make an impact, and Ward was crushing the ball in Triple-A. Fans would've much preferred to see the Dodgers give him a shot than continue to watch Conforto flail at the plate.

Ward, an unranked prospect, has clearly presented a bit of a conundrum to the Dodgers for some time now. He's been a non-roster invitee to three consecutive spring trainings but was never even added to the 40-man roster in-season. He hit 90 homers with 318 RBI in Triple-A from 2023-2025, but the Dodgers continued to ignore him.

Being on the 40-man roster doesn't guarantee him anything, but it did prevent him from leaving in minor league free agency, so the Dodgers do actually want to give him an opportunity.

At GM Meetings, Brandon Gomes said, "[Ward's name] came up a bunch. [...] We are certainly anticipating him to get a bunch of opportunities at some point this year."

But if the Dodgers do sign Kyle Tucker or trade for Steven Kwan, when and where they going to be able to give Ward opportunities?

Dodgers want to give Ryan Ward opportunities in the major leagues, but where will they fit him?

This is exactly the same problem that the Dodgers have had (and still have) with Dalton Rushing, who is blocked at catcher by Will Smith and at first by Freddie Freeman for the foreseeable future. Rushing took some turns in left field during his short stint at Triple-A, but we return to the same problem Ward would have if the Dodgers were to upgrade their outfield.

The Dodgers want to have their cake and eat it, but it might be time for them to fully pick a lane. They can't fill their roster to the brim with stars on long-term contracts and then promise that they'll figure out some way to get opportunities to top prospects in one of the best farm systems in baseball. It's a disservice to the players they simply won't be able to find reps for.

There's a world in which the Dodgers don't get Tucker or Kwan, and in that world it'll be easier to see how guys like Ward and Rushing could have a path forward. But the Dodgers usually get with they want, and if they do the most unsurprising thing and fill up their outfield with external options, we'll be right back where we started.