Most Likely Dodgers Prospects to Be Called Up This Year Ranked

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a plethora of talent waiting for their turn to be called up to the big leagues this season. The organization's farm system is top tier and there are four prospects in particular that will likely get some big league action in 2026.

1. River Ryan

Ryan is the most likely Dodgers prospect to be called up in 2026. The right-handed pitcher was on the fast track to major league success when he had to undergo Tommy John surgery in 2024.

That season, Ryan posted a 1.33 ERA with 18 strikeouts across 20.1 innings pitched in the big leagues. Flash forward to 2026, the right-hander is hoping to return to the Dodgers rotation and make an impact.

The Dodgers already have a crowded bunch of starters with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Emmet Sheehan and Roki Sasaki opening the season as the five-man unit. The team is also adding hybrid pitcher Justin Wrobleski to the rotation in order to have a six-man rotation this week.

There's plenty of arms to fill the rotation, but as is the trend with the Dodgers, injuries will likely open a door for top prospects such as Ryan to get time in the big leagues.

He's starting the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

2. Kyle Hurt

Hurt has a similar story to Ryan as the beginning of his big league career was also derailed because of Tommy John surgery in 2024. The right-hander tossed 6.2 innings with three strikeouts that year.

The 27-year-old is expected to take on a multi-inning relief role for the Dodgers, which is what he transitioned to in camp this spring. Hurt impressed the team with his 7.1 innings of three-run ball while punching out 12.

Though he had a strong spring performance, Hurt was optioned to the minor leagues to open the season as the Dodgers bullpen is also crowded. The thinking behind both Hurt's and Ryan's cuts this spring make sense as both missed the entire 2025 season so the Dodgers will be cautious with their workloads this season.

Hurt will certainly factor into the team's bullpen plans this year, and could potentially be called up earlier than Ryan.

3. James Tibbs III

Tibbs is by far the hottest Dodgers prospect awaiting his turn in the minors. The 2024 first-round pick was traded twice in the span of six weeks last season.

First, the San Francisco Giants sent him to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for star Rafael Devers. Just over a month later, the Red Sox dealt Tibbs and Zach Ehrhard to the Dodgers in exchange for Dustin May at the trade deadline.

Tibbs is off to a red-hot start at Triple-A Oklahoma City, hitting .500 (13-for-26) with four home runs and 10 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of 1.744 this season.

Many are convinced the Dodgers may have found their next power hitter in Tibbs.

James Tibbs III, acquired by the Dodgers (along with Zach Ehrhard) from the Red Sox for Dustin May at last year's trade deadline, homered again today.

His updated stats at Triple-A through 6 games:

.500 AVG (13-for-26)
4 HR
10 RBI
9 XBH
1.744 OPSpic.twitter.com/bxylM48zPJ
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) April 3, 2026

4. Ryan Ward

Ward's path to the big leagues has been tough, especially this season after the Dodgers signed top free agent Kyle Tucker.

There was an argument to be made for Ward's call up last season amid former outfielder Michael Conforto's career-worst season. However, Ward remained in the minor leagues and absolutely raked.

Ward hit 36 homers with 122 RBIs to win the Pacific Coast's MVP award in 2025. General manager Brandon Gomes explained why it's been a challenge to get Ward up to the big leagues in recent years.

"He was probably more a victim of circumstances of, 'Hey, do we have a runway for him to play?' versus call him up and he doesn’t get to play. Were there clear times when he was going to jump somebody and get a consistent amount of runway to play? We didn't really see that path over the last couple years," Gomes said.

The long 162-game season has several unknowns, so there could perhaps be an open door for Ward in 2026.

The 28-year-old has been with the Dodgers organization since 2019 when he was drafted in the eighth round. He's yet to make his MLB debut.