Surprise Dodgers Prospect Named Hottest Pitcher in Organization

MLB.com’s Jim Callis, Sam Dykstra and Jonathan Mayo chose right-hander Christian Zazueta as the hottest pitching prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization.

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Zazueta, who currently pitches for the High-A Great Lakes Loons, signed with the New York Yankees as an international free agent in 2022, and came to the Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season alongside southpaw Matt Gage in the trade which sent left-hander Caleb Ferguson the opposite way.

The right-hander made just one appearance in High-A last season, but managed a 2.44 ERA through 16 starts with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. His numbers in his first full season of High-A ball this year are a little puzzling, but he’s showing tons of promise despite allowing a few runs per outing.

“Zazueta’s 4.50 ERA may not be the prettiest, but he leads the High-A Midwest League in strikeouts (43 in 28 innings), K rate (38 percent) and strikeout-minus-walk rate (33 percent),” the article reads. “Stolen from the Yankees in a February 2024 deal for Caleb Ferguson, he has a pair of plus pitches in a lively 92-97 mph fastball and an 83-85 mph changeup that sinks and fades. His mid-80s slider has looked better than ever this season.”

Jul 30, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; A general view of a Los Angeles Dodgers hat and glove during the second inning in the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Is Christian Zazueta a Ranked Prospect?

While Zazueta isn’t in MLB’s Top 100 prospects, he comes in at No. 9 in the Dodgers’ organization.

He is their third-best pitching prospect, coming in behind MLB hopefuls River Ryan and Jackson Ferris, both of whom the website projects to be in MLB by the end of the year. Zazueta, on the other hand, has an MLB ETA of 2028.

At just 21 years of age, though, the Dodgers have plenty of time to wait for their young start to develop… and from what MLB’s website says about the right-hander, they may have something special on their hands when that time comes.

“Zazueta’s athleticism allows him to move down the mound well and create extension, and to repeat his simple delivery well enough to locate all three of his pitches where he wants,” Zazueta’s scouting report reads. “Just 21 years old, he still has plenty of projection remaining in his 6-foot-3 frame. He already looks like a possible mid-rotation starter, and adding more power to his pitches could raise his ceiling higher.”

Do you agree with MLB.com’s selection? Or does another pitcher deserve the title?

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