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Zyhir Hope, the Dodgers’ No. 3 overall prospect, launched his 18th home run of the season at Double-A Tulsa, per MLB.com’s prospect coverage. That’s a significant number for a 21-year-old working his way through the upper minors, and it puts him among the more productive power bats in the Texas League this year.

Hope has been on the Dodgers’ radar since they selected him in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia. He was raw then — a projectable athlete with loud bat speed and a frame that screamed future power. What he’s done since is fill out that projection in real time. He climbed through the lower levels quickly, showing improved plate discipline and the ability to drive the ball to all fields with authority. The 18th homer at Double-A isn’t just a milestone — it’s confirmation that the power tool is playing against more advanced pitching. Hope is a corner bat, primarily a third baseman, though the organization has also given him reps at first base and in the outfield to maximize his versatility. The defensive home is still a bit of a question mark, but the bat has never been in doubt, and this season is the strongest evidence yet that it’s close to big-league ready.

Eighteen homers before the All-Star break at Double-A is the kind of production that forces a front office’s hand. I think we’re looking at a player who could see Triple-A Oklahoma City before the season is out, and honestly, depending on how the second half shakes out and what the Dodgers do at the trade deadline, a September look in the majors isn’t out of the question. The Dodgers have a deep farm system, but Hope is one of the names that keeps coming up in internal discussions about the next wave of homegrown contributors.

For context, this Dodgers organization has been aggressive about promoting prospects who are producing — we saw it with players like Dalton Rushing and others in recent years. Hope fits that mold. He’s young, he’s athletic, and he’s hitting for real power at a level where a lot of guys his age are still adjusting. The fact that he’s the No. 3 prospect in a system this loaded says a lot about the ceiling the organization sees.

What does this mean for us right now? Not a whole lot in terms of the major league roster today. But keep this name close. Hope is building a case that he belongs in the conversation sooner rather than later. If the Dodgers end up moving pieces at the deadline — and the rumors about Rushing suggest that’s possible — the depth Hope represents becomes even more important. He’s one of the guys the front office points to when they talk about sustained success beyond this season. Eighteen homers at 21 in Double-A is legit. This one’s easy to get excited about.

Source(s): MLB.com (Tulsa Drillers) | First reported: July 9, 2026 3:42 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers