Hitter of the Week
While there have been some Dodgers prospects who have gotten off to hot starts, there isn’t a hotter hitter on the planet right now than James Tibbs III. Acquired in the Dustin May trade last year, Tibbs III hasn’t stopped hitting since he joined the org.
After slashing .313/.386/.667 with four home runs in Spring Training, as well as homering in the Spring Breakout game, Tibbs III headed to Oklahoma City and has been dominating Triple A pitching for the last week and a half. Through nine games, James is hitting .474 with 7 home runs, which paces all of minor league baseball. His three homer night on Saturday put an emphatic cap on an overpowering week.
This small a sample size shouldn’t lead to any major changes in the Dodgers’ plans for the 2026 season, but if he keeps it up, Tibbs III could force the Dodgers to make some difficult decisions.
Still thinking about James Tibbs III’s three-homer game from last night ?@Dodgers | @OKC_comets pic.twitter.com/efk0APSi6X
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 5, 2026
Pitcher of the Week
The Dodgers have gotten some strong performances during their opening week and it’s difficult to choose just one. A very slight edge goes to Jesus Tillero, the 19-year-old right hander, for his dominant performance in relief on Friday for Ontario.
Tillero was one of the top signings for the Dodgers in their 2023 international class that included players like Joendry Vargas, Luis Carias and a catcher by the name of Eduardo Quintero. Jesus struggled in his first few pro seasons in the states, posting an ERA of over 5.00 in the Complex League before finding some success with Rancho last season.
In his 2026 debut, Tillero piggybacked 2025 2nd rounder Cam Leiter and spent the next five innings dominating Lake Elsinore batters. He struck out 8, issued no walks and allowed just two hits over five shutout innings. The Venezuelan native is looking to re-establish himself as a legitimate prospect this year and his debut was a strong step in the right direction.
While all eyes are on Cam Leiter, Jesus Tillero went the distance tonight vs. the Storm:
5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 55 PC
Not only was he dominant, but he also efficiently got through the Storm’s lineup while carving eight batters in five innings of work. pic.twitter.com/0maH0tnhDv
— DodgersLite (@dodgerslite) April 4, 2026
Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets
River Ryan made his debut for the Comets on Saturday and, while the stat line wasn’t too impressive, his stuff was and he’s going to give the Dodgers yet another rotation option once he’s built up to make major league starts. His fastball sat at 97.4, generating a 57% whiff rate and his slider was inducing weak contact through his four inning stint.
Guess who’s back?
River Ryan, that’s who. pic.twitter.com/t5OeWGbhCw
— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) April 5, 2026
Hyeseong Kim was a disappointing omission from the Dodgers’ opening day roster, so he went down to OKC and hit .346 over six games before being recalled after Mookie Betts’ injury. The young infielder should split time with Miguel Rojas at shortstop, while also giving the Dodgers an option at second base and in center field.
Zach Ehrhard, the other prospect acquired in the Dustin May trade, got plenty of playing time in Spring Training where he OPS’d .856 and has hit the ground running with the Comets. The outfielder is batting .280 and provides the org with a strong depth option.
Double-A Tulsa Drillers
While I expected Jackson Ferris to get the ball on opening day for the Drillers, it was a different southpaw who took the mound and dominated. Luke Fox allowed just one run over 6 innings while striking out 8. The 24-year-old posted a 2.85 ERA in 22 games last year and has quietly been one of the Dodgers best minor league arms since being drafted in the 17th round in 2023.
After a rough first start of the season for Adam Serwinowski on Friday, Patrick Copen came in and posted zeroes in his 2026 debut on Saturday. The hulking righty struck out 8 over five shutout innings, pitching around a few walks and punching out Padres top prospect Ethan Salas to end his outing. While he’ll continue being developed as a starter, his path to the show could be accelerated with a move to the pen where his stuff would play and his command issues would be mitigated.
Patrick Copen…HECK YEAH!Copen was DOMINANT in his first start with AA Tulsa.5IP | 2H | 0R | 8Ks | 3BB
His 3rd pitch of the night was 98, and when he threw it to the top of the zone, it was BUHBYE! His slider was tight when it turned left, and it turned to miss bats. He then… pic.twitter.com/QCMCq1GVKd
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) April 5, 2026
Kendall George has already stolen 3 bases in his first 3 games, which should come as no surprise. Josue De Paula has a .467 OBP, but it’s been another pair of less heralded prospects who’ve gotten off to hot starts.
Kyle Nevin, son of Phil, paces the team with an 1.107 OPS and a pair of homers. Elijah Hainline, a 7th rounder from 2024, has belted a homer of his own and also stole a base. Hainline hit very well in his debut last year and should continue to provide offense from the middle infield in the upper minors.
So many highlights from Opening Weekend… but this one? ?
Elijah Hainline’s 3-run blast from last night still has us buzzing ?@Charbroil | @MiLB pic.twitter.com/8P2DcTIcAP
— Tulsa Drillers (@TulsaDrillers) April 5, 2026
High-A Great Lakes Loons
Sterling Patick started the opener for the Loons and was dominant, shutting down the competition for five innings. He allowed just 3 hits and struck out 7. The 20-year-old lefty is a breakout candidate this year.
Charles Davalan waited til his 3rd game to collect his first hit but he made the most of it. Leading off the 3rd inning in the second game of a doubleheader, Davalan smacked his first homer of the season. The Loons would bat around that inning, leading to Davalan coming back up with the bases loaded and he collected his second homer of the season, this one a grand slam.
Charles Davalan: TWO homers in ONE inning ?
The @Dodgers’ 2nd pick in the 2025 Draft plates 6 runs in a loud 3rd frame for the @greatlakesloons: pic.twitter.com/JjxkJAyJXz
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 5, 2026
Christian Zazueta was unhittable the first time through the order in his debut, retiring the first 9 batters he faced while striking out 7 of them. After a half hour he came back out for the 4th and gave up a few baserunners and a run, but exited without any further damage. Zazueta is another arm to follow for the Loons.
In Game 1 of their doubleheader on Sunday, Nico Perez provided almost all of the offense. He singled and homered for their only hits and their only run. In Game 2, he walked twice and belted a 2 run double. The 21 year old infielder has surprising offensive upside and defensive versatility.
Single-A Ontario Tower Buzzers
With Tibbs III and the rest of the Dodgers’ outstanding outfield prospects, some guys can get lost in the mix. One of the younger players who’s trying to make a name for himself is Brendan Tunink, a 20-year-old 8th rounder from 2024.
Through the Tower Buzzers’ first three games, Tunink is batting .500 with a double and three homers, including two in the opener and an 8th inning, go ahead shot in Saturday’s series clincher. If he continues to improve his contact skills, expect to hear his name more and more this season.
Tunink. Martinus. BACK-TO-BACK ?? pic.twitter.com/w0cJjuKoBm
— Ontario Tower Buzzers (@towerbuzzers) April 5, 2026
The biggest name prospect on the team, Emil Morales, has also gotten off to a strong start with five hits in three games. Fellow infielders Chase Harlan and Joendry Vargas have also made their presence felt, with Harlan collecting three hits including a triple on opening day and Vargas smacking an opposite field homer on Saturday.
On the mound, Cam Leiter made his professional debut on Friday and looked great, striking out three over three scoreless frames. Leiter has the quintessential size and stuff of a frontline starter, so if he can stay healthy and throw strikes his ceiling is very high.
Cam Leiter…LFG!3IP | 1H | 0R | 3Ks | 0BB
Leiter was making his affiliated debut in the Dodgers system after getting drafted in the 2nd Round of last summer’s draft out of Florida State.
Big fastball with what looks like a LOT of “ride & run”, then a really good slider-shaped… pic.twitter.com/Jl0Cw227lY
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) April 4, 2026
