Before the weekend, the Dodgers invited 18 players not on the 40-man roster to 2025 Spring Training. One name — Roki Sasaki — dwarfs the list. However, the Dodgers will also invite several other top prospects, including Dalton Rushing and Jackson Ferris.
The most notable name among the Dodgers’ invites is Roki Sasaki, who officially signed with the team earlier this week. Los Angeles beat out the Padres and Blue Jays, also reported finalists for the righty.
Sasaki is not on the team’s 40-man roster right now, as he doesn’t have to be. The right-hander signed a Minor League contract as MLB considered him an international amateur. Even though the right-hander may be considered one of the best starters in baseball right now, Sasaki is also under 25 years of age and didn’t meet international free agency requirements, hence the designation.
The right-hander, however, is a lock to be on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster, assuming he stays healthy.
Los Angeles fans will get a chance to see two prospects acquired during last year’s organizational “reset,” in Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope.
Hope, a raw, yet talented high school with pop, was drafted by Chicago (NL) in 2023 and acquired in the Michael Busch deal. The 20-year-old hit .290/.419/.484 (.903 OPS) with nine home runs and 25 extra-base hits over 61 contests, mostly in Low-A.
Ferris, acquired in the same trade, struck out 145 over 126.2 IP and finished last year in Double-A. The left-hander showcased plus stuff since his pro debut. And, a major positive for Ferris — a pitcher with a tough delivery to repeat — shaved his BB/9 rate down to 4.05 last year, from 5.3 in 2023.
The other big prospect in camp is C/OF Dalton Rushing. Rushing belted 26 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A last season and could be in the Majors in 2025. However, one note that Rushing — a primary catcher — saw significant time in left field last year.
Los Angeles also invited recently-signed infielder David Bote to camp. Bote spent parts of six seasons with the Cubs, the only organization he ever played for. Th 31-year-old was drafted by Chicago in 2012.
Additionally, the Dodgers invited Chris Okey, Jose E. Hernandez, Jose Rodriguez, Austin Gauthier, Ryan Ward, Griffin Lockwood-Powell, Alex Freeland, Carlos Duran, Justin Dean, Jack Little, Josue De Paula, Jared Karros, and former first-round pick Kody Hoese to camp.
The Dodgers are one of several teams to have announced their non-roster invite list. The White Sox and Blue Jays, among other teams, have done so over the last two weeks.