Surging top prospect will hopefully help Dodgers avenge Michael Busch trade with Cubs

There's no reason why Michael Busch should still feel salty about being traded from the Dodgers to the Cubs on arbitration deadline day in 2023. He got a tryout with the Dodgers last season and couldn't really hack it, and with Freddie Freeman here through 2027, where were they going to put Busch? Trading him to a team that needed a first baseman to get more playing time and actually prove himself in the majors was the best thing for everyone.

But every time Busch sees the Dodgers, he performs like he's still taking that trade to heart. In the series opener of the Cubs' recent visit to Dodger Stadium, he went 4-for-5 at the plate with a homer and three RBI. In the six games he's seen the Dodgers this season, he has a .333 average and 1.135 OPS.

The Dodgers got two prospects in exchange for Busch, pitcher Jackson Ferris (Double-A) and outfielder Zyhir Hope (rookie ball), LA's No. 5 and 11 prospects, per MLB Pipeline.

While Busch in the in the majors taking his anger out on the Dodgers, Ferris is quietly becoming one of the organization's best pitching prospects. He leads all Dodgers minor leaguers in strikeouts and has a 2.54 ERA through his first seven starts in Double-A.

Jackson Ferris is quietly becoming one of the Dodgers most exciting pitching prospects

Ferris was promoted to Double-A this season after making 20 starts in High-A and posting a 3.39 ERA. Through his first seven starts in Tulsa, he's pitched 28 1/3 innings and struck out 26 batters. He's pitched three scoreless starts since moving up and, outside of a rough 2/3 inning start when he gave up three runs on one hit and four walks, he has yet to give up more than two runs in a Double-A outing.

MLB Pipeline likens him to Blake Snell, "albeit with better stuff and a cleaner delivery," which is incredibly high praise. Ferris does, unfortunately, also seem to share a penchant for walking batters with Snell; he has a 4.45 BB/9 this season.

He's expected to land in the majors in 2026, so we probably shouldn't expect a promotion anytime soon. However, his name is one to watch at spring training next year, and the Dodgers could plausibly expedite him to the majors next season if they find themselves in a similar, injury-laden position. While we certainly hope they don't, a possible major league debut for Ferris could be a small silver lining.