Mike Sirota was born in Mineola, NY, and grew up in the Broad Channel neighborhood of Queens, New York City. He attended The Frederick Gunn School in Washington, Connecticut, and in 2021, he was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 16th round of the MLB Draft but chose to play college baseball at Northeastern University instead. His sophomore year in 2023 was particularly notable; he hit .346 with 18 home runs, 54 RBIs, and scored a school-record 73 runs, earning him first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors and recognition as a third-team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association. In 2024, he did fade somewhat with a .298 BA and seven home runs.
The Cincinnati Reds selected Sirota in the third round (87th overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft, and he signed with the team for $863,300. In January 2025, the Reds traded Sirota and a competitive balance draft pick to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for infielder Gavin Lux. He was not surprised by the trade, as the Dodgers had shown much interest in him since high school when they drafted him in 2021. Why the Reds wanted Lux, we may never know, but the Dodgers had wanted Sirota for a long time, and they were finally able to acquire him.
As has been reported ad nauseum, Sirota is the grandnephew of Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford, and that is who is pictured in the cover photo. In the past few years, the Dodgers have drafted at least three centerfielders, including Jeren Kendall, Jake Vogel, and Kendall George. Kendall is toast. Vogel is toasting quickly, and the best I can say about Kendall George is that he is Juan Pierre and that will not play in today’s game. Mike Sirota is not a five-tool player… yet! But he could be! He has a plus arm and plus, plus speed to go with above-average power and a great eye at the plate. That may be his superpower. BTW, he bats and throws right-handed. He will likely start this season at Rancho Cucamonga.
Here’s a great interview with Mike, and you will see that he is a very wise (beyond his years) young man.
You never know about prospects, but this is a guy who is a 6′ 3″ speedster, projected to be weighing 210-215 pounds. He runs like a deer and has good power with a great batting eye. That is unusual for a 21-year-old. 2027 would be his earlier arrival date—maybe later! Andy Pages holds the spot down right now, but the Dodgers have many options, including Kim, CT3, Kike, and Tommy Baseball, but I think James Outman’s ship has sailed. You cannot look at his rookie season or even last season. Look at what he is RIGHT NOW: He can play a decent centerfield (not great), but he strikes out over 50% of the time. Like Joey Gallo and maybe Alex Verdugo, maybe he needs to learn to pitch.
Discussion (20)
Disagree, not disagreeable
8:10 PM ET
SP Jackson Ferris L
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
2B Tommy Edman S
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
C Will Smith R
LF M. Conforto L
SS Miguel Rojas R
CF Andy Pages R
74° Wind 7 mph Out
UPDATED LINEUP
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts was scratched from the lineup with less than two hours before the first pitch of the Freeway Series. Miguel Rojas is now penciled in as the starting shortstop.
Dave Roberts said Mookie Betts will play 3-4 innings of defense and take 2 AB’s tonight.
The Los Angeles Dodgers named left-hander Blake Snell as the domestic Opening Day starter. The pitching matchup should be a classic as Snell will take the mound for the defending champions and AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal will do so for the Detroit Tigers.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki will start Game 2 and Game 3, respectively, of the series against Detroit, announced manager Dave Roberts.
Nice article on the Lux trade. Siorta has time to get it together and fight off the competition. Definitely like getting the young guns up to the show. Honestly, my favorite baseball season is spring training and watching the guys in the minors progress. I just hope Pages doesn’t become another Wild Horse. Thanks to all for the entertaining articles and great comments
8:10 PM ET
Angels (63-99) (0-0)
Dodgers (98-64) (2-0)
Angels (63-99)
Dodgers (98-64)
SP Jose Soriano R
0-0 .00 ERA
Undecided Dodger starting pitcher
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
C Will Smith R
LF M. Conforto L
2B Tommy Edman S
CF Andy Pages R
74° Wind 7 mph Out
Will post Dodger starting pitcher when available
Both Betts and Freeman in tonight’s lineup vs the Angels at 8PM ET. Will post the full lineup when the starting pitcher is posted.
“Kershaw said he is improving by the day and hopes to make his 2025 debut in June, via “Foul Territory:”
“I think it’s all on a good timeline. The foot is kind of weird. Not a lot of people have had this surgery, so there’s not a lot of finite milestones to make. But throwing some bullpens now, and everything feels good. It’s just kind of that last 10, 15% to really step on it. I think if that goes well, I think that’s (returning in June) fair.”
Kershaw is not eligible to be activated off the 60-day IL until May 17.
Kershaw was limited to seven starts last year and finished 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA, 3.53 FIP and 1.50 WHIP in 30 innings pitched. It was the first time since his rookie season in 2008 that he posted an ERA above 4.00”.
A lot of players getting released today including former Dodger, Ross Stripling. Mitch Haniger was released by the Mariners, and Brandon Drury was released by the White Sox.
2028
C – Rushing/Smith
1B – DePaula
2B – Betts
SS – Freeland
3B – Morales
LF- Hope
CF – Sirota
RF – Pages
DH-Ohtani
Manager Kevin Cash announced Sunday that ex Dodger Ryan Pepiot will start Friday’s season opener against the Rockies, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
“Shane McClanahan had previously been named Tampa Bay’s Opening Day starter, but a triceps injury will put him on the injured list to begin the season. Pepiot is coming off his first full season as an MLB starter, and he pitched well in 26 starts with a 3.60 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 142:48 K:BB over 130 innings”.
Will Mookie and Freddie play in any of the upcoming three games with the Angels before Opening Day on Thursday against Detroit?
Here’s a couple more (more recent):
Why the Dodgers drafted Kendall George as a first round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft is beyond me. Speed and not much else. Hope has already surpassed him on the depth chart.
What I do think is likely is that in 2026, Mookie slides over to 2B, and Alex Freeland becomes the SS.
I think SS is a one-year deal for Mookie.
He wants to be the All-Star and Gold Glove SS and then do the same thing at 2B.
In 2026, CT3, Kike, Barnsie, and Miggy Ro could all be gone. Rushing, Freeland, Miller, and/or Feduccia could be on the team.
It is great to have Dodger minority owners with substantial net worths like Magic Johnson 1.5 billion dollars and Billie Jean King of over 20 million that are not only in it for the return on their investment but are winners and want to continue to win along with Walters,Kasten and others in the group.This the Golden Age of Dodger’s baseball. Enjoy it, it is really something Special!!!!!
Rockies traded Nolan Jones to the Guardians for Tyler Freeman. Pages is much better suited as a corner outfielder. The Dodger defense is much better with someone else playing CF, be it Kike or Edman.
I’m in.
I like his quiet confidence and the fact that he considers his selectivity at the plate as his best quality.
Hopefully we can add him to the list of Ferris, Hope and River Ryan as guys we picked up in trades who are going to be real assets.
Love what the Dodgers got back in the Lux trade,Sirota and the 41st draft pick in the upcoming July MLB Draft along with the pool money associated with that pick. The Dodgers draft 40th for their normal pick which is 10 slots down because of going over the luxury tax.
Love it.
Like his skills etc. Kind of a Freeland-level major league.
Steady. Well-rounded, athletic