Dodgers 2027: What to Expect from De Paula, Sirota, Tibbs III, and Zazueta

The Dodgers have four young players who could play important roles in reshaping the organization over the next two seasons. Three are hitters with legitimate power and advanced strike-zone discipline. The fourth is a young pitcher whose development could eventually make him a significant part of the rotation.

My expectation for 2027: De Paula could become an everyday Dodger, Sirota could make his MLB debut, Tibbs could force his way onto the roster, and Zazueta could position himself for a 2028 rotation opportunity.

The four prospects at a glance

Josue De Paula, OF, 21

2026 Double-A: .303/.401/.547, 27 HR, 104 RBI

2027 outlook: A legitimate candidate to start in left field. His bat may already be ready, but his defense remains the deciding factor.

Mike Sirota, OF, 23

2026 Minors: .307/.461/.526, 17 HR, 100 BB

2027 outlook: Could start in Oklahoma City and reach Los Angeles during the season, particularly if the Dodgers need a right-handed outfielder.

James Tibbs III, 1B/OF, 24

2026 Triple-A: .287/.409/.532, 30 HR, 107 RBI

2027 outlook: A serious candidate for a major league opportunity, although finding him a position is more difficult than finding a reason to like his bat.

Christian Zazueta, RHP, 22

2026 Double-A: 3.44 ERA, 78 K, 55 IP

2027 outlook: A possible Triple-A starter who might reach Los Angeles late in the year, but 2028 remains the more realistic target.

2026 statistics from MLB Pipeline, Baseball Savant and Dodgers reports.

1. Josue De Paula: The Dodgers' best opportunity to inject youth immediately

De Paula is the most interesting of the four because he has already demonstrated that he can handle at least a small taste of major league pitching.

During his September call-up, he reached base in 21 of 42 plate appearances, hitting .323 with 11 walks and just five strikeouts. His composure was impressive enough that the Dodgers used him as a postseason pinch-hitter.

The biggest question is not whether he can hit. It's whether he can play acceptable defense in left field. MLB Pipeline rates his fielding at just 40 on the 20-80 scouting scale.

De Paula's success could allow the Dodgers to reduce Teoscar Hernández's role or trade him. Andrew Friedman has already identified De Paula's defensive improvement as an important next step.

My biggest concern is whether the organization will tolerate defensive mistakes while he learns. If Los Angeles wants to get younger, it has to allow talented young players to develop in the majors.

2. Mike Sirota: An intriguing combination of patience, power and defense

Sirota may be the most balanced prospect of the three hitters.

His 2026 statistics were impressive:

.307 batting average
.461 on-base percentage
.526 slugging percentage
17 home runs and 100 walks in 108 games
A remarkable 72-game on-base streak

He reached Triple-A by the end of the season. His ability to play center field also gives him positional flexibility that De Paula and Tibbs don't necessarily offer.

Sirota's greatest offensive strength is his ability to control the strike zone. However, his 114 strikeouts in 108 games indicate that there are still swing-and-miss questions.

My 2027 expectation: He opens with Oklahoma City, gets 250–350 plate appearances there, and earns a major league opportunity by midseason or later.

The big issue is opportunity. A right-handed hitter with center-field experience and a strong on-base percentage could be especially valuable on a Dodger roster that needs to become younger and more athletic.

3. James Tibbs III: The most interesting roster dilemma

Tibbs presents a different problem. He has already conquered Triple-A pitching.

His 2026 season included 30 home runs, 107 RBI, 108 walks, and a .941 OPS. He also helped Oklahoma City win its championship.

Those are impressive numbers, even accounting for the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

But where does he play?

He has experience at first base and the corner outfield positions. With Freddie Freeman at first, Shohei Ohtani at DH, and several outfielders ahead of him, his path to everyday playing time is complicated.

I have suggested it, but would not replace Freeman with Tibbs in 2027. Freeman remains the better-established major league player, and Triple-A production doesn't guarantee immediate MLB success.

My 2027 expectation: Tibbs starts in Oklahoma City unless the Dodgers trade a veteran or create a clear major league role. He could make his debut during the season.

The Dodgers should continue developing him at first base and the corner outfield positions rather than treating him as the automatic successor to Freeman.

There is another possibility: Tibbs becomes an attractive trade asset. But with Freeman approaching the final year of his contract, I would be cautious about surrendering a young left-handed power hitter.

4. Christian Zazueta: A possible future rotation mainstay

Zazueta is the least likely of these four to make a substantial MLB contribution in 2027, but he could become extremely valuable over the longer term.

The Dodgers named him their Minor League Pitcher of the Year in both 2025 and 2026, an accomplishment previously achieved by pitchers including Chad Billingsley and James McDonald.

Across High-A and Double-A in 2026, he produced a 6–4 record, 3.65 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 103⅔ innings.

His arsenal features a promising fastball and changeup, both graded 60 by MLB Pipeline. He also needs continued development of his breaking pitch and starter's workload.

My 2027 expectation: He begins in Double-A or Triple-A, progresses to Oklahoma City if necessary, and makes a case for a late-season MLB look.

He doesn't need to be rushed. In fact, given the Dodgers' recent pitching injury history, careful workload development would be especially sensible.

What it means for the Dodgers' future

What interests me most is that De Paula, Sirota, and Tibbs all have the potential to improve the Dodgers' offensive depth without requiring another enormous free-agent contract. But none should automatically be considered a finished major league player.

De Paula could begin transforming the Dodgers' lineup in 2027. Sirota could provide athleticism, defensive versatility, and on-base ability. Tibbs offers a possible long-term answer at first base or a corner outfield position. Zazueta has the potential to become a quality starting pitcher, perhaps in 2028.

The Dodgers' biggest challenge is no longer simply acquiring talent. It's creating opportunities for their young talent while transitioning away from an aging core.

And that leads to this question:

Would you rather begin 2027 with a lineup dominated by veterans whose best seasons may be behind them, or accept some growing pains while developing De Paula, Sirota and Tibbs into the next generation of Dodgers?

I would start De Paula in left field if his defense is playable, keep Sirota and Tibbs ready at Oklahoma City, and make sure Zazueta continues developing as a starter. The Dodgers can remain contenders while getting younger, but only if they are willing to give their prospects genuine opportunities.