Dodgers Target July Return for Prospect Acquired in Michael Busch Trade: Report

The Los Angeles Dodgers could get back their No. 20 prospect from injury sometime this month.

Bill Plunkett of Baseball America reported on Zyhir Hope, saying L.A.’s No. 20 prospect in their farm system could return from his shoulder injury sometime in July.

“Hope, 19, got off to a good start with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga but suffered a muscle injury in his ribs and has not played since April. He should be ready to return to action in July.”

— Bill Plunkett, Baseball America

Hope suffered the shoulder injury on May 1 and the hope was he would only miss a week. Unfortunately, he’s missed the last two months.

Hope is expected to be back soon, though. Prior to his injury, Hope was playing spectacularly, slashing .282/.378/.521 with a .899 OPS, three home runs, 13 RBIs, 20 hits, and 13 runs in 18 games and 71 at-bats. The 19-year-old has been huge for the Dodgers’ Single-A minor league affiliate, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Hope joined the Dodgers organization this past offseason when L.A. acquired him along with left-hander Jackson Ferris from the Chicago Cubs for Michael Busch and Yency Almonte .

While the Cubs received ready-made players to help them at the moment, the Dodgers, with their brilliant player development, could make Hope and Ferris solid big-league players. In Hope’s minor league career, he is a .283 hitter with six homers, 22 RBIs, and a .920 OPS in 106 at-bats.

Hope was the Cubs’ 11th-round draft pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. The 19-year-old is from Chesapeake, Virginia.

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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