%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201004.4%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201004.4%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23005B9E%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23989898%3B%7D%0A%09.st4%7Bfill%3A%23EE3B3F%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cg%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M41%2C12.5H0v137.7h41c13.6%2C0%2C25.1-5.5%2C34.4-16.4c9.3-11%2C14.1-28.4%2C14.2-52.4c-0.1-24-4.9-41.5-14.2-52.4%0A%09%09%09C66.1%2C18%2C54.6%2C12.5%2C41%2C12.5z%20M61.5%2C115.3c-4.9%2C8.5-11.7%2C12.9-20.5%2C13.2H20.8V81.4V34.3H41c8.8%2C0.3%2C15.6%2C4.4%2C20.6%2C12.4%0A%09%09%09c5%2C8%2C7.5%2C19.6%2C7.5%2C34.6C68.9%2C95.5%2C66.4%2C106.8%2C61.5%2C115.3z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M146%2C47.3c-14.5%2C0.4-25.2%2C6.4-32.2%2C17.9c-5.1%2C8.8-7.7%2C20.4-7.8%2C34.7c0.1%2C13.8%2C2.7%2C25.1%2C7.8%2C33.9%0A%09%09%09c6.8%2C11.9%2C17.5%2C18.2%2C32.2%2C18.9c14.6-0.7%2C25.4-7%2C32.2-18.9c5.1-8.8%2C7.7-20.1%2C7.8-33.9c-0.1-14.4-2.7-26-7.8-34.7%0A%09%09%09C171.2%2C53.6%2C160.5%2C47.7%2C146%2C47.3z%20M162.5%2C119.2c-3.5%2C7.8-9.1%2C11.7-16.7%2C11.7c-6.9%2C0-12.4-3.9-16.3-11.7%0A%09%09%09c-2.4-5.5-3.5-11.9-3.5-19.1c0-7.7%2C1.2-14.3%2C3.5-19.7c3.4-7.8%2C8.8-11.7%2C16.3-11.7c7.7%2C0%2C13.3%2C3.9%2C16.7%2C11.7%0A%09%09%09c2.4%2C5.5%2C3.5%2C12.1%2C3.5%2C19.7C166%2C107.4%2C164.8%2C113.7%2C162.5%2C119.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M260.4%2C54.5c-4.2-4.7-10.2-7.1-18.1-7.2c-26.4%2C0.5-39.6%2C18.6-39.6%2C54.3c0%2C34.1%2C13.1%2C51.2%2C39.2%2C51.2%0A%09%09%09c6.8%2C0%2C13-2%2C18.4-6v3.5h20.8v-140l-20.8%2C10.9V54.5z%20M260%2C123.7c-4.8%2C6.6-10.9%2C9.8-18.2%2C9.7c-12.3-0.1-18.5-10.8-18.6-32.1%0A%09%09%09c0-21.1%2C6.4-32.1%2C19.2-32.9c8%2C0%2C13.9%2C3.4%2C17.7%2C10.1V123.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M359.5%2C54.5c-4.2-4.7-10.2-7.1-18.1-7.2c-26.4%2C0.5-39.6%2C18.6-39.6%2C54.3c0%2C34.1%2C13.1%2C51.2%2C39.2%2C51.2%0A%09%09%09c6.8%2C0%2C13-2%2C18.4-6c0.4%2C16.9-7.3%2C28.6-23%2C35.1l8.6%2C18.1c22.5-8.6%2C34.2-26.4%2C35.1-53.2V48.1h-20.8V54.5z%20M359.1%2C123.7%0A%09%09%09c-4.8%2C6.6-10.9%2C9.8-18.2%2C9.7c-12.3-0.1-18.5-10.8-18.6-32.1c0-21.1%2C6.4-32.1%2C19.2-32.9c8%2C0%2C13.9%2C3.4%2C17.7%2C10.1V123.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M465.9%2C61.7c-7-9.6-16.3-14.4-28-14.4c-12.4%2C0-22.1%2C5.2-29.1%2C15.5c-7%2C10.3-10.5%2C22.6-10.5%2C36.7%0A%09%09%09c0%2C17.1%2C3.6%2C30.3%2C10.9%2C39.5c7.3%2C9.2%2C16.8%2C13.8%2C28.7%2C13.8c16.9-0.4%2C28.6-8.3%2C35.1-23.6l-18.6-8c-3.9%2C7-9.6%2C10.3-16.9%2C10.1%0A%09%09%09c-5.2%2C0.1-9.5-1.9-12.8-6.1c-3.3-4.2-4.9-9.5-4.9-15.9h56.5C476.4%2C87.1%2C472.9%2C71.3%2C465.9%2C61.7z%20M419.5%2C89%0A%09%09%09c-0.3-5.2%2C1.3-10.1%2C4.7-14.7c3.4-4.6%2C8-6.8%2C13.7-6.7c5.4%2C0%2C9.6%2C2.1%2C12.9%2C6.4c3.2%2C4.2%2C4.7%2C9.2%2C4.6%2C15H419.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M515.9%2C55.5v-7.4h-21v102.2h21.2V87.6c0.5-12.6%2C5.2-19%2C13.9-19.3c4.1-0.1%2C8%2C1.8%2C12%2C6l6.9-19.9%0A%09%09%09c-5.1-4.5-11-6.8-17.7-7C524.5%2C47.3%2C519.4%2C50%2C515.9%2C55.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M598.1%2C86.3c-6.5-2.6-10.6-4.6-12.3-6c-1.6-1.4-2.4-3.2-2.3-5.3c0.1-2.5%2C1.1-4.4%2C3-5.9%0A%09%09%09c1.9-1.4%2C4.5-2.2%2C7.8-2.2c8%2C0.3%2C15.2%2C3.5%2C21.6%2C9.7l13.1-13.8c-9.3-10.3-21-15.6-35.1-15.8c-9.3%2C0-16.8%2C2.9-22.5%2C8.7%0A%09%09%09c-5.7%2C5.8-8.3%2C12.1-7.9%2C18.8c0%2C6.7%2C2.2%2C12.6%2C6.7%2C17.7c4.4%2C5.1%2C11.5%2C9.3%2C21.2%2C12.7c6.7%2C2.7%2C11.5%2C5.5%2C14.5%2C8.2%0A%09%09%09c3%2C2.7%2C4.4%2C5.7%2C4.3%2C8.8c0.1%2C3.2-1.4%2C5.8-4.6%2C7.9c-3.2%2C2.1-7.1%2C3.1-11.7%2C3c-6.4-0.1-13.6-3.5-21.6-10.1l-13.7%2C14.4%0A%09%09%09c10.7%2C10.1%2C22.5%2C15.3%2C35.3%2C15.4c11.3-0.1%2C20.1-2.9%2C26.5-8.3c6.4-5.4%2C9.7-12.5%2C9.8-21.3c0-10-3-17.9-9.1-23.6%0A%09%09%09C615%2C93.7%2C607.4%2C89.3%2C598.1%2C86.3z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22775.5%2C85.1%20758.4%2C12.5%20738.2%2C12.5%20721.5%2C85.1%20711.3%2C12.5%20690.1%2C12.5%20709.5%2C150.3%20728%2C150.3%20%0A%09%09%09748.2%2C61.9%20769%2C150.3%20787.4%2C150.3%20806.9%2C12.5%20785.7%2C12.5%20%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M883.5%2C56.4c-7-6.1-15.6-9.1-25.8-9.1c-12.4%2C0.4-23.4%2C4.1-32.8%2C11.1L835.3%2C75c6.8-5.2%2C14.5-7.7%2C23-7.4%0A%09%09%09c9.9%2C1%2C14.8%2C6.4%2C14.5%2C16.4c-5.2-1.5-10.9-2.3-16.9-2.3c-10.9-0.1-19.5%2C3.2-25.8%2C10c-6.3%2C6.8-9.5%2C15.2-9.5%2C25.2%0A%09%09%09c0%2C11.6%2C3.4%2C20.5%2C10.3%2C26.6c6.9%2C6.1%2C15.5%2C9.2%2C26%2C9.4c6.3-0.1%2C12-2.1%2C17.1-6v3.3h20.2V83C894%2C71.4%2C890.5%2C62.5%2C883.5%2C56.4z%0A%09%09%09%20M872.2%2C127c-5%2C5.1-10.3%2C7.6-15.9%2C7.6c-5.2%2C0-9.4-1.8-12.5-5.5c-3.1-3.7-4.6-7.6-4.6-11.7c-0.1-4%2C1.3-7.5%2C4.3-10.7%0A%09%09%09c3-3.2%2C6.8-4.7%2C11.4-4.7c5.8%2C0%2C11.5%2C0.8%2C17.3%2C2.5V127z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22980.9%2C49.7%20955.6%2C120.2%20929.3%2C49.7%20906.7%2C49.7%20943.6%2C150.3%20924.4%2C199.8%20947.5%2C199.8%201004.4%2C49.7%20%09%09%0A%09%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
3 Dodgers prospects that will eventually steal a roster spot in 2023
Opening Day is right around the corner and Los Angeles Dodgers fans now know who has made the Opening Day roster. It goes without saying that the roster on Opening Day is not going to be the same as the eventual playoff roster the team rolls out.
An MLB roster is an ever-changing thing and that is particularly true this season with the organization having so much young talent that is ready to make an impact. That young talent will eventually have to get a chance at the big-league level and current members of the roster will suffer because of it.
3 Dodgers prospects who will eventually steal a roster spot in 2023:
1. Michael Busch
Michael Busch is the definition of big-league ready as he raked at the highest level of the minors last season and really doesn't have anything else to prove down in AAA. At 25 years old, it is time for Busch to make the big-league club and prove that he can do against MLB pitching.
All that being said, Busch was still optioned to minor league camp by the Dodgers during spring training, forecasting a starting role with the OKC Dodgers to start the season. Instead of calling him up to be on the bench, the Dodgers likely want Busch to log more at-bats down in OKC.
A roster spot will eventually open due to injury and Busch will be the first minor league position player to benefit. Even if the injury occurs in the outfield, the Dodgers could get creative with the lineup and defensive positions to fit Busch in.
And once he is on the team, there is a chance that he out-produces regular members of the roster. Dave Roberts and co. will then have a tough decision to make.
Michael Busch has the second highest OPS this spring (.967)
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) March 25, 2023
Wish he would have gotten a shot on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster, but we’ll see him soon enough (hopefully) pic.twitter.com/spjb7tGJEy
2. Gavin Stone
Gavin Stone has been the best pitcher on the Dodgers during spring training in 2023. The fast-rising 2020 fifth-round pick has been absolutely disgusting on the bump for LA, throwing 6.2 scoreless innings with 14 strikeouts.
Stone already had a solid repertoire when the Dodgers drafted him but then in classic Dodgers fashion, the team taught the right-hander how to throw a change-up. That has revolutionized what Stone can do on the mound and the results have been disgusting.
Gavin Stone's 8Ks in 3 innings. 😯
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 20, 2023
That changeup is gonna be a problem. pic.twitter.com/AlfrjBgh0O
Stone did not make the Opening Day roster but Dave Roberts confirmed that we will likely see him at the big-league level at some point this season. With Tony Gonsolin currently out of action, Stone should be the next man in line for a rotation spot if another injury occurs.
Even if a rotation spot does not open, there will naturally be relievers who struggle to start the year and Stone could be a candidate to be the long-relief option out of the bullpen. The Dodgers have done this before with young arms and it would not be completely surprising if they did so again late in 2023 if a spot does not open up.
Regardless, Stone has thrived at every single minor league level that he has pitched at and continued that success against big-league hitters in the Cactus League. The 24-year-old is big-league ready and there is no refuting it.
3. Jonny DeLuca
Jonny DeLuca is not a big-name prospect, which can result in him getting lost in the shuffle in the Dodgers organization. There is so much talent throughout the farm system and DeLuca would undoubtedly rank higher in most other organizations.
The Dodgers like DeLuca enough to protect him in the Rule 5 Draft, adding him to the 40-man roster last season. It is not hard to see why the Dodgers like DeLuca as he has hit well at every single minor league level thus far in his career.
The 2019 25th-round pick has slashed .263/.347/.513 with 48 home runs and 148 RBIs in 225 MiLB games across three seasons. He has made it as high as AA in the Dodgers system and thrived in his time there last year, posting a .965 OPS for Tulsa.
Los Angeles has seven outfielders on the Opening Day roster and several of those are bound to disappoint. Trayce Thompson is due for a hard regression while Jason Heyward and David Peralta are shots in the dark. Eventually, there will be a spot open for an outfielder.
Andy Pages ranks higher than DeLuca in terms of prospect status and is also on the 40-man but DeLuca has a better chance of getting a roster spot this year. DeLuca is turning 25 in July while Pages is only 22. The Dodgers would likely rather have Pages get consistent at-bats in the minors while DeLuca is easier to bring up as a bench bat.
DeLuca does not have nearly as high of a ceiling as Pages but fans should still expect to see him at some point in 2023.
MUST-READ: The 15 worst free-agent signings in Dodgers history