Dodgers Part Ways With Former Top Prospect in Surprise Move

Getty

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (right) could use more arms.

The Los Angeles Dodgers made a splash with their first acquisition of the offseason, signing former top prospect Aaron Bracho and assigning him to Double-A Tulsa.

Now, the team has decided to part ways with Bracho before he ever had a chance to play at the top level. Sportrac reported that the Dodgers released Bracho on June 10, ending a tenure that had shown some promise.

Aaron Bracho Was Considered a Top 10 Prospect

As Blake Williams of Dodger Blue noted when he was first signed, Bracho had some big expectations around him and had gotten some acclaim in his first MLB program.

“Bracho, who turns 24 years old in April, was once a well-regarded prospect for the Cleveland Guardians,” Williams wrote. “He was ranked as the No. 6 overall second base prospect, just behind former Dodgers prospect Michel Busch, in the 2021 rankings by MLB Pipeline. Bracho was also one of the Guardians’ top-10 prospects in a crowded system during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.”

Williams added that Bracho earned some recognition for his raw skills, though he has not been able to rise above the Double-A level in his six seasons of professional baseball.

“Despite his small frame at just 5’9 and less than 200 pounds, Bracho rose in the prospect ranks due to his surprising power, which FanGraphs graded as a 60 grade raw power and 50 game power, while MLB Pipeline also had him as a 50 grade power hitter,” Williams wrote.

Bracho appeared in 35 games for Tulsa this season, hitting .257 with five homers and 16 RBIs.

Though Bracho was stashed lower in the Dodgers’ farm system, it was still considered a surprise for the team to part ways with him so soon after his signing. The Dodgers are looking to defend their World Series championship from last season and hold onto a slim lead in a competitive NL West, standing a half-game above the San Diego Padres at 40-28.

Another Dodgers Prospect on the Move

Though Bracho was not able to reach his potential in the Dodgers system, another one of the team’s top prospects appears to be on track to reach the majors in the near future. Right-handed reliever Jose Rodriguez has made a fast rise this season, shining in Triple-A after not being able to rise above High-A last season.

As MLB.com’s Sonja Chen noted, the Dodgers were impressed enough to move Rodriguez to within one stop of the Majors.

“Rodriguez began the year at Double-A Tulsa, then moved up to Triple-A Oklahoma City after just eight appearances,” Chen wrote. “He’s combined to post an 8.64 ERA in 20 outings — which doesn’t look pretty, even when taking into account the hitter-friendly tendencies of the Pacific Coast League.”

Chen added that Rodriguez has 41 strikeouts in 25 innings, showing a “rapid rise” after being something of a late bloomer.

“After the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his professional debut until 2021, Rodriguez didn’t spend a full season in A-ball until ’24, which he split between Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and High-A Great Lakes,” Chen wrote. “He was a non-roster invitee to Major League Spring Training for the first time this season.”

Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty