The Dodgers’ decision to trade Michael Busch a couple of years back might have seemed puzzling at first, but time has shown it was a savvy move by Los Angeles. The centerpiece of that deal, outfield prospect Zyhir Hope, acquired from the Chicago Cubs alongside pitching prospect Jackson Ferris for Busch and reliever Yency Almonte, is proving to be a gem. Since arriving in 2023, Hope has outshone expectations, and his performance at the High-A level is nothing short of electrifying.
Kicking off his season with a .444/.583/.778 slash line, Hope is not just impressing with the bat but also displaying remarkable base-running skills, swiping three bases in as many games. In his debut for High-A Great Lakes, Hope launched his first home run—a two-run blast that traveled an estimated 427 feet with an exit velocity of 111 mph—off Cleveland Guardians pitching prospect Dylan Delucia.
His three-hit game, which included an RBI single right out of the gate and another base hit in the seventh, only added to the hype. Each hit exceeded 100 mph off the bat, leaving no doubt about his power.
Originally drafted by the Cubs in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB Draft, Hope fought his way to prominence, overcoming a stress fracture in his rib last summer to post impressive numbers in Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. With a .287/.415/.490 line in 54 games while just 19, he was already turning heads.
Hope isn’t your run-of-the-mill 11th-rounder. He showed off in the Arizona Fall League, where he clobbered a 470-foot homer, and soon after, he was ranked the No. 75 prospect in baseball and the Dodgers’ No. 6 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. His overall minor league stats—.294/.425/.502 across 265 at-bats—tell the story of a player on a fast track to the majors.
After participating in the Dodgers’ Major League spring training as a non-roster invitee, there’s a buzz that Hope could make his MLB debut sooner rather than later if he keeps up this blistering pace. For Dodgers fans, he’s quickly becoming a favorite—not just as a trade steal, but as a potential future star.
