For an organization headlined by its future hitters, the Dodgers still have pitchers turning heads on the farm, with Zach Root exemplifying that on Tuesday.
Los Angeles' No. 12 prospect tallied a career-high 11 strikeouts over his six-inning scoreless start, navigating High-A Great Lakes to a 4-2 victory over Dayton at Dow Diamond.
Root made his opposition look loony at the plate. The 40th overall pick in the 2025 Draft scattered five strikeouts across the first four innings for the Loons. Across his latter two frames, Root struck out the side twice, allowing one base runner via his second walk of the evening.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound southpaw yielded only one knock -- a bloop single by Peyton Stovall (Reds) to lead off the game -- in the 13th start of Root's pro career. Stovall got picked off two batters later while attempting to steal second base. The 22-year-old then retired 17 of the following 20 batters, finishing with the second-most swings-and-misses (21) at High-A on the day.
COMPLETE DODGERS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Following his sixth scoreless appearance of the season, Root sports a 2.37 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and .193 average-against. The Arkansas product -- who earned Midwest League Pitcher of the Week in early May -- has 69 strikeouts to 19 walks across 49 1/3 innings this year.
Root was named to the All-Spring Breakout First Team during his first Spring Training. In his unofficial pro bow this past March, he notched eight punchouts in three scoreless frames.
More from MLB Pipeline:
• Top 100 prospects | Stats | Video | Podcast | Complete coverage
One level higher up, Christian Zazueta (LAD No. 8) also provided a glimpse of what the Dodgers' future rotation may hold. The 21-year-old righty struck out eight batters for a third consecutive Double-A start, manning five innings of two-run ball for Tulsa in a 4-3 win over Springfield at ONEOK Field.