Los Angeles Dodgers prospects Christian Zazueta and Eduardo Quintero were named the 2025 Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year and Player of the Year, respectively.
They follow in the footsteps of Dalton Rushing and Jackson Ferris receiving the honors last year. Michael Busch and Kyle Hurt were recognized in 2023. Coincidentally, Busch was included along with Yency Almonte in a trade with the Chicago Cubs that sent Ferris and Zyhir Hope to the Dodgers.
Additional Dodgers Branch Rickey Award winners include Gavin Lux (2018-2019), Tony Gonsolin (2018), Walker Buehler (2017), Corey Seager (2014), Joc Pederson (2014, 2012), Chad Billingsley (2004-2005), Mike Piazza (1992) and Eric Karros (1991), among others.
The Dodgers started their annual Branch Rickey Awards in 1989. Players have been selected each year, with the exception of 2020 when the Minor League season was canceled because of the COVID pandemic.
The Dodgers are going to present Zazueta and Quintero with their respective awards during a pregame ceremony on the field at Dodger Stadium before Friday’s game against the San Francisco Giants.
2025 Dodgers Minor League Awards
Christian Zazueta: Branch Rickey Pitcher of the Year
Zazueta went 7-2 with a combined 2.41 ERA in 17 starts between Low-A Rancho Cucamonga and High-A Great Lakes. Though, all but one of those starts was made with the Quakes. In his lone outing for the Loons, the right-hander pitched just one inning.
Zazueta was named a California League All-Star this season, along with Quakes teammates Quintero and Elijah Hainline.
Across four Minor League seasons, Zazueta is 14-12 with a 4.08 ERA. The Mexican native was originally signed by the New York Yankees as an international free agent on Jan. 17, 2022.
The Yankees traded Zazueta to the Dodgers on Feb. 5, 2024, in exchange for Caleb Ferguson. The Dodgers also acquired Matt Gage in that deal.
Eduardo Quintero: Branch Rickey Player of the Year
Quintero also began his season with the Quakes and hit .306/.426/.533 with 14 home runs and 53 RBI before earning a promotion to the Loons on July 25. Upon moving up to High-A, Quintero batted .259/.384/.440 with four doubles, one triple, five home runs and 16 RBI over 32 games.
Across his time with both affiliates, Quintero stole 47 bases in 60 attempts. That was good for fourth among all Dodgers Minor Leaguers, trailing Kendall George (100), Jaron Elkins (62) and Esteury Ruiz (61).
Earlier this week, Quintero was named the California League Player of the Year. The Venezuelan native is in his third season with the Dodgers organization.
Quintero was signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent on Jan. 15, 2023, out of Ocumare del Tuy, Venezuela.
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