Dodgers to Promote 25-Year-Old Infielder From Triple-A: Report

Rosters are expanding from 26 to 28, and one of the two lucky call-ups is known.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (68) celebrates with second baseman Alex Freeland (76), second baseman Miguel Rojas (72) and Kike Hernandez after hitting a walk-off single in the 11th inning against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on July 6. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Los Angeles Dodgers have one of the deepest farm systems in baseball, with several top-100 hitting prospects who have yet to debut pushing for their first big-league promotion.

None of them will join the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, infielder Alex Freeland will be the position player getting the call from Triple-A Oklahoma City when rosters expand from 26 to 28 across Major League Baseball.

Freeland was optioned to Triple-A when the Dodgers activated Kiké Hernández from the injured list in July. The 25-year-old was hitting .231 with three home runs, 19 RBIs and a .622 OPS across 72 games this season in MLB.

The transaction is not yet official. The Dodgers will not need to make a corresponding move on their 40-man roster to bring up Freeland, who was also optioned to Oklahoma City in May, and spent 16 days in the minors before he was promoted again.

In 25 August games with the Dodgers' top farm team, Freeland slashed .248/.350/.347. He was 7-for-8 in stolen base attempts but contributed little by way of power (five doubles, one triple, one home run).

Freeland has seen time at second base, third base and shortstop in the Pacific Coast League and made only two errors (both at second base) in 320.2 innings.

That defensive versatility is more of a calling card than anything Freeland does at the plate. For a Dodgers team that features MLB's oldest position player group, Freeland's ability to give Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, Tommy Edman and Miguel Rojas a day off might be his best attribute.

Still, fans hoping a hotter-hitting prospect would get the nod will have to wait. Outfielder James Tibbs III had a .326/.458/.565 slash line in 26 games in August for the Comets, with as many walks (23) as strikeouts (23). For now he'll have to wait.

With relief pitcher Blake Treinen on the 60-day injured list and currently out on a minor league rehab assignment, the Dodgers were going to need to create a 40-man roster spot to accommodate his return. It's possible that creating a second 40-man roster spot for Tibbs was too much to ask — for now.

Offense has been the Dodgers' biggest problem of late. Their .689 OPS in August ranked 21st in MLB. If more time off for their 30-something regulars doesn't do the trick, and Freeland can't hit his weight in the big leagues, perhaps another move is in store.

Sign up for our free newsletter and follow us on X/Twitter and Facebook for the latest news.