Charles Davalan Adds Second Base To His Dodgers Development
Charles Davalan is spending the Arizona Fall League adding another possibility to his defensive future.
The 2026 Midwest League MVP has been receiving opportunities at second base for the Glendale Desert Dogs after playing primarily in the outfield during the regular season.
This should not be interpreted as the Dodgers permanently moving Davalan out of the outfield. The organization is using the Fall League to expand his versatility and determine whether second base can become another viable option as he progresses through the system.
For a prospect whose bat already appears capable of carrying him forward, an additional defensive position could create more paths to the Major Leagues.
Davalan Returns To A Familiar Position
Second base is not completely new to Davalan.
He previously appeared at the position in 2024 before transitioning primarily to the outfield. His AFL appearances represent his first game experience at second in two years.
The Dodgers selected Davalan with the 41st overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, and his first full professional season quickly established him as one of the organization’s most productive young hitters.
Davalan batted .292 with a .402 on-base percentage and a .535 slugging percentage across 115 games in 2026. He finished with 24 home runs and 17 stolen bases while earning Midwest League MVP honors for his work with High-A Great Lakes.
He led the Midwest League with 128 hits, 29 doubles, 56 extra-base hits and 235 total bases before finishing the season in Double-A.
MLB Pipeline currently ranks Davalan as the Dodgers’ No. 6 prospect and the No. 79 prospect in baseball.
His Fall League Bat Is Beginning To Improve
Davalan did not produce much offense during the opening portion of his Fall League schedule, but he has begun showing signs of improvement.
He has five hits through 30 at-bats, with four of them coming over his last week. That stretch included his first AFL home run, a solo shot for Glendale against Scottsdale.
His batting average does not tell the entire story.
Davalan has also drawn three walks and been hit by five pitches, helping him produce a .333 on-base percentage despite the slow start.
Eight free trips to first base in addition to his five hits reflect some of the strike-zone awareness and on-base ability that helped him produce a .402 OBP during the regular season.
The Fall League remains a small sample, and its primary value for Davalan may be defensive development rather than his final offensive numbers.
Versatility Could Accelerate His Path
Davalan’s offensive profile already gives him a strong foundation.
He combines contact ability with developing power, controls the strike zone and has enough speed to contribute on the bases. The remaining question is where he ultimately provides the greatest defensive value.
Adding second base would give the Dodgers another way to fit his bat into a future lineup.
That flexibility matters in an organization that regularly asks its players to handle multiple positions. Davalan would not need to abandon the outfield for his infield work to become valuable. Simply becoming dependable at both could improve his chances of reaching Los Angeles and remaining on a Major League roster.
The Dodgers are not announcing a permanent position change.
They are giving one of their top prospects another tool.
Chase Harlan Producing In Arizona
Chase Harlan has also delivered an encouraging AFL performance for Glendale.
The 20-year-old third baseman is batting .269 with a .444 on-base percentage and a .538 slugging percentage through eight games. He has two home runs, one double and seven walks across 36 plate appearances.
His second homer traveled more than 400 feet, offering another example of the raw power that makes him one of the more intriguing young hitters in the Dodgers’ system.
Harlan entered the Fall League after batting .298/.403/.509 with 14 home runs across two Class A levels. An oblique injury cost him the final month of the regular season, making these additional at-bats especially valuable.
MLB Pipeline ranks Harlan as the Dodgers’ No. 9 prospect.
Dodgers Continue Creating More Options
The Fall League is designed to challenge prospects, provide additional playing time and create opportunities for development that may not have been available during the regular season.
For Davalan, that means revisiting second base while continuing to face advanced pitching.
His long-term defensive home remains unsettled, and a few weeks in Arizona will not determine it. However, proving he can handle the infield without sacrificing his offensive development could make him considerably more valuable.
Davalan is not becoming a second baseman. He is giving the Dodgers another reason to believe his bat can eventually find a place in their lineup.