The two-time reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers do not have many holes in their opening day lineup. Yet, their bullpen still could use an extra arm or two — especially a left-hander.
With that in mind, MLB.com’s Sonja Chen floated Ronan Kopp as a dark horse to make the Dodgers’ opening day lineup when they announce their roster next month.
Kopp, who will turn 24 in July, was a 12th-round draft pick of the Dodgers in 2021 and has not yet reached the majors. He went 2-4 with a 3.43 ERA and two saves in 49 appearances split between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City last year.
The Dodgers will open their season against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 26 at Dodger Stadium.
Ronan Kopp Could Make the Dodgers out of Spring Training
Kopp is 6-7 and still just months from his 24th birthday and has become a swing-and-miss specialist in the minors.
Kopp was added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster recently, perhaps replacing Kirby Yates the ineffective, high-priced veteran who also didn’t live up to the advanced billing in 2025. Yates, who pitched on a one-year, $13 million contract yet went 4-3 with a 5.23 ERA in 41 1/3 innings for the Dodgers, went down the coast to Orange County to sign with the Los Angeles Angels.
So with the Dodgers signing closer Edwin Diaz this offseason, and still on the hook for failed lefty 2025 offseason signing Tanner Scott and veteran Blake Treinen, Kopp could be a low-cost, low-risk option for LA.
“While the Dodgers have the key pieces in their bullpen set, there should be some competition for the last few spots,” Chen wrote. “Perhaps Kopp, who was added to the 40-man roster this past offseason, could make a good impression in his first big league camp and seize one of them.
“The southpaw struck out 91 batters in 57 2/3 innings between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City last year, but he also issued 42 walks.”
The Dodgers Have Been Good at Developing Relievers
If Kopp gets to the majors, he is likely to be successful. Despite their flashy, high-priced stars, the Dodgers have been great at finding and developing unheralded relief pitchers.
Jack Dreyer, Justin Wrobleski, Anthony Banda and Alex Vesia are all 10th-round-or-later draft picks that come out of the Dodgers bullpen. Throw in Ben Casparius, a fifth-round pick who hails from Connecticut and played college baseball at UConn, and you have an arsenal of little-known weapons who important innings out of relief for the Dodgers last season.
Kopp could become the latest this year, as long as he can cut down on the walks. Kopp’s walk rate is an astounding 6.5 per nine innings, which means he has averaged almost one walk per inning in the minor leagues.
“If Kopp can flash some improved command this spring, he could put himself right in the conversation,” Chen wrote.
Dodgers fans saw last year what happens when a star-laden starting pitching staff gets cut down by ineffective relievers, since LA ranked tied for 21st in the majors in bullpen ERA (4.27). The more effective arms Dave Roberts has, the better the outcomes are sure to be.
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