Pitching prospect Dave Roberts didn’t know existed predicted to break Dodgers bullpen

While it'd be impossible for a major league manager to know the names and faces of every single member of their organization, it was a little funny/sad when top pitching prospect Ben Casparius told The Athletic that Dave Roberts didn't know his name when he reported to spring training in 2024 (subscription required). Casparius was still in Double-A at that point and wasn't a non-roster invitee, but he was the Dodgers' No. 23 prospect despite coming off of a rough half a season in Double-A the previous season.

Casparius didn't pitch in a game that spring and went back to Tulsa to start the year, but he was promoted to Triple-A after five starts and was called up to the majors on the last day of August alongside Brent Honeywell, as Joe Kelly and Clayton Kershaw went onto the IL.

The Dodgers' pitching staff was ravaged by injury throughout the season, which resulted in them employing a reliever carousel from the minors basically from Day 1, but this was Casparius' first time up. He pitched a flawless inning against the Diamondbacks in his first appearance before getting sent back down the next day as Justin Wrobleski was recalled.

The Dodgers brought him back up again at the end of September (see? Revolving door), and he was entrusted with two long relief outings. His second, lasting 4 1/3 innings, was actually pretty brilliant; he gave up six hits and two walks, but only one earned run scored, and he struck out seven batters. He also ended up on both the NLCS and World Series rosters, pitching 6 1/3 innings and only giving up one run.

It was a great audition, and it may pay off in the form of an Opening Day roster spot thanks to, no surprise, more injuries. Roberts — who definitely knows Casparius' name now — said that there's a "good chance" he comes back to the majors as a long reliever.

No. 14 prospect Ben Casparius expected to make Dodgers' Opening Day roster

Casparius climbed up to No. 14 in the Dodgers' top 30 this year thanks to his efforts last season, and he's had a decent showing in spring training through his first 4 2/3 innings (he's allowed two runs including a homer). The Dodgers have had to scratch multiple relievers from Opening Day roster consideration already — Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, Michael Grove, and Edgardo Henriquez — which gives the younger guys like Casparius the opportunity to see more time in the majors.

If Casparius is used in long relief, we might expect to see him after a few Roki Sasaki starts, as it feels likely the Dodgers will cap Sasaki's innings for a little while while he gets accustomed to the majors.

Casparius still has plenty of minor league options left, so he would be/probably will be an easy cut when Phillips and Kopech are available to return. Still, the Dodgers need every opportunity they can get to give their backlog of emerging prospects some time to prove themselves.