The Los Angeles Dodgers have arguably the deepest pitching staff as an organization in baseball, with a top-tier rotation, a rock-solid bullpen, and a ton of emerging arms.
Despite how poor the bullpen was in 2025, the Dodgers only added Edwin Diaz, relying on young guys and bounce-back candidates to deliver in a new season.
Thus far in spring training, some of those bets seem well placed as a handful of pitchers have really improved.
Mar 4, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts against Team Mexico during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Here are five hurlers who are leaving an impression on the Dodgers’ decision-makers.
Justin Wrobleski
Wrobleski has made two starts in spring training, along with one relief appearance, racking up six innings worth of work without allowing a run.
He has allowed only two hits, given up no walks, and struck out four hitters. As a southpaw who has the ability to be a swing pitcher, either out of the bullpen or starting, he was already in a strong spot to make the Opening Day roster.
However, his spring training has seemingly carried over the momentum from his 2025 postseason run, in which he pitched five innings and allowed no runs, and he is in the mix to not only make the roster but also the rotation.
Wrobleski did not look stellar in his 66.2 innings during the 2025 regular season, but his trajectory is pointing up, and at 25, there is plenty of room for growth.
Antoine Kelly
Kelly, who is a non-roster invite, has never pitched in a major league game, being a perpetual minor league player who has really struggled in Triple-A over the last three seasons.
He was last in the Colorado Rockies system, but he has bounced around a good deal. During his 67 games of Triple-A ball, he had a 6.69 ERA, throwing a total of 70 innings.
While the lefty has been a journeyman, his spring production indicates that there is still potentially a major leaguer in his 6-foot-5 frame.
During six relief appearances, Kelly has pitched six clean innings, allowing just one hit and two walks, with seven strikeouts.
His play, if it continues, could net him a spot on the Dodgers’ Triple-A for 2026, putting him a level below the majors with a chance to finally break through with a good campaign.
River Ryan
After coming back from Tommy John surgery that he went through in 2024, Ryan has emerged as one of the oldest prospects in baseball, though one who has plenty of room for growth.
At 27, Ryan is still a rookie despite starting four games in the 2024 season, when he posted a 1.33 ERA in 20.1 innings.
He looked like another gem in the Dodgers’ organization, but Ryan went through the procedure that so many pitchers end up going through.
Through 5.2 innings of spring training work, he has been stellar, picking up where he left off. He has only given up one run via a homer, walked three batter and gotten seven strikeouts.
His stuff looks sharp, and Ryan is a serious contender for a starting rotation spot or potentially a long-relief role.
With an injury to Gavin Stone, with whom Ryan was fighting for a spot in the rotation, and struggles from other pitchers, Ryan can be ready for a potentially NL Rookie of the Year-caliber season if he does get an Opening Day role.
Tanner Scott
Arguably, other than Roki Sasaki, no pitcher has more to prove than Tanner Scott, one of the highest-paid relievers in the sport, who failed to make an impact in 2025 and instead was a detriment to the team.
A -0.6 bWAR season after inking a four-year, $72 million contract should set any team back, but the Dodgers managed to win the World Series.
With everyone gunning for Los Angeles and their three-peat goals, the Dodgers need Scott to bounce back and be the set-up man to Edwin Diaz.
The early spring training returns are promising, with 3.1 innings of work and only two hits given up, along with a walk.
He has only five strikeouts in 13 batters faced, but he is generating a good amount of soft contact, a positive trend for someone who was one of the hardest-hit pitchers in the sport.
Things are looking up for Scott, and the Dodgers should be excited about where he is.
Will Klein
Can the World Series hero prove that he belongs on the Opening Day roster? This was the question hanging over Klein’s head after an incredibly gutsy World Series moment in which he entered an 18-inning slugfest and delivered multiple innings to the Dodgers before Freddie Freeman hit the game-winning home run.
Klein was a fringe bullpen arm for most of the regular season, but due to injuries and poor performances by others, he made the postseason roster.
He made the most out of his chance, however, with new additions and players getting healthy again, Klein was facing a battle for a bullpen spot.
Through the first half of spring training, he has allowed just one run, via a home run, along with seven strikeouts and no walks. Klein has quality stuff and throws a hard fastball, a combination that can lead to sustained success if his command holds up.
With Edgardo Henriquez headed in the wrong direction after similar World Series heroics, Klein will surely a bullpen spot as a middle-relief arm.
LA Baseball Report
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