Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Jack Dreyer is not going to be found on any top-100 prospect lists at present time, nor is he even a top-30 Minor Leaguer in the organization’s farm system according to MLB Pipeline. And yet, Dreyer has been a valued member of the Dodgers bullpen so far this year.
While a lot was made about the Dodgers and their spending habits the past two years, the organization has once again demonstrated that money isn’t the sole reason for their success.
Last season it was Ben Casparius who emerged from relative obscurity to make an impact at the Major League level for the Dodgers. In 2025, it has been Dreyer who is carrying that torch.
“It’s huge. You never know how a young player is going to respond pitching here, pitching in the big leagues. We learned him in Spring Training, good heart rate, can handle a Rubik’s cube so we can see he can manage pressure,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said about Dreyer’s performance as a rookie.
“He’s very likable, the guys like him, and he’s a really smart player. One of the smartest young guys I’ve ever been around. Curious enough, but not overly curious and not too impressionable. But wants to learn and obviously very talented. He’s been a pleasant, pleasant surprise.”
After his collegiate career at the University of Iowa came to an end, Dreyer signed with the Dodgers as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He missed the 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, which likely contributed to not getting drafted.
After pitching in 46 games with a 2.20 ERA and 0.99 WHIP across Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, the Dodgers had a high enough opinion of Dreyer to place him on the 40-man roster last year in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Dreyer then earned a spot on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster after a good performance in Spring Training and has made the most of his opportunity ever since. In eight games, he has posted a 0.75 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 36.4% strikeout rate across 12 innings.
While Dreyer has managed to set himself apart in a very talented Dodgers bullpen, Roberts doesn’t foresee a role change at this time. But Roberts does feel confident deploying Dreyer in any situation going forward.
“I like him where he’s at right now. We’ve got a group of relievers that are seasoned, talented, have a lot of experience pitching in high leverage,” Roberts said. “But I do feel that pretty much in any situation, I can run him out there and feel good about it.”
Jack Dreyer’s path to the Dodgers bullpen
Dreyer rapidly rose through the ranks of the Dodgers farm system to find himself in this position. After recovering from Tommy John surgery, he made 12 appearances for the Arizona Complex League Dodgers in 2022. He was much more seasoned in 2023 as he pitched in 42 games with High-A Great Lakes.
Dreyer was promoted to the Tulsa Drillers for the beginning of the 2024 season and moved up to Oklahoma City after dominating the competition to the tune of 14.2 scoreless innings.
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