Josue De Paula may receive most of the attention when conversations turn toward the Dodgers’ next generation.
Mike Sirota is building a case that he should not be far behind.
MLB.com’s Sonja Chen identified Sirota as a prospect who could move quickly in the Dodgers’ 2027 outfield picture, particularly because his right-handed bat offers a different look from several of the organization’s prominent young hitters.
That is a projection, not a report that Sirota will make the Opening Day roster or receive a promotion.
His performance makes the possibility worth discussing.
Sirota Produced At Three Levels
Sirota played at High-A Great Lakes, Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City during a breakout 2026 season.
Across 108 games, he hit .307/.461/.526 with a .987 OPS, 17 home runs, 28 doubles, 62 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.
The most impressive numbers may be his 100 walks and 100 runs scored.
Sirota reached base in 72 consecutive games between Great Lakes and Tulsa, falling just short of the modern Minor League record. The streak demonstrated that his production was not built around a brief power surge or unsustainable stretch of batted-ball luck. MiLB.com
His success also continued after a significant promotion.
Sirota hit .325/.478/.602 over 35 games with Great Lakes before moving to Double-A in May. He then produced a .297/.450/.490 line with 10 home runs and 65 walks across 71 games for Tulsa.
The Dodgers promoted him again after Tulsa’s postseason ended, allowing him to finish the year with Oklahoma City. Sirota reached base five times in his Triple-A debut, collecting a double and three walks. mlb.com
He only played two games at Triple-A, so the sample does not establish that he has mastered the level.
It does place him close enough to Los Angeles to become relevant if he continues producing in 2027.
Why Sirota Is Different From De Paula
Sirota should not be viewed as a replacement for De Paula.
Their skill sets could eventually complement one another.
De Paula is a left-handed corner outfielder whose offensive ceiling places him among the best prospects in baseball. His bat already earned him a September opportunity with the Dodgers, but his outfield defense remains an important development priority.
Sirota is a right-handed hitter with experience at all three outfield positions. MLB Pipeline gives him above-average grades for his hitting, power, speed, arm and defense, creating a more balanced overall profile. MiLB.com
At 23, Sirota is also two years older than De Paula and has already reached Triple-A. That combination of age, defensive versatility and upper-level experience could allow him to move ahead of younger outfielders who remain farther from the majors.
MLB Pipeline currently lists Sirota with a 2027 estimated arrival.
That does not mean he has passed De Paula in the organization’s plans. De Paula already reached the majors and should enter Spring Training with a clearer path toward regular playing time.
The better question is whether Sirota can become the next outfielder called after him.
Right-Handed Bat Could Help Balance The Roster
The Dodgers’ current outfield picture includes several left-handed hitters.
De Paula bats left-handed. Kyle Tucker bats left-handed. Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman already occupy prominent spots elsewhere in the lineup from the left side.
Sirota would offer another right-handed option alongside Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernández.
That could become valuable if the Dodgers trade Teoscar to create playing time for De Paula or otherwise restructure the outfield. Sirota’s ability to play center field could also give Los Angeles greater flexibility than it would receive from a bat-first corner option.
There is an important statistical caveat.
Sirota hit .233/.389/.430 against left-handed pitching in 2026. He walked 21 times and hit four home runs in 108 plate appearances, but he also struck out 37 times.
Those numbers do not establish him as a lefty-killer.
His presence could make the lineup less left-handed overall, but the Dodgers would still need him to improve his contact against lefties before treating him as an answer to their matchup concerns.
Plate Discipline Is His Carrying Tool
Sirota’s strongest attribute may be his understanding of the strike zone.
He drew 100 walks against 114 strikeouts in 2026, an unusual level of patience for a player who also produced 48 extra-base hits.
That approach gives Sirota a relatively high offensive floor. Even when he is not driving the ball, he can create value by reaching base and forcing pitchers to work.
The concern is that patience can occasionally become passivity.
MLB Pipeline notes that Sirota sometimes allows hittable pitches to pass while waiting for the perfect opportunity. He has also shown some vulnerability against curveballs and changeups. MiLB.com
Major League pitchers will attack those tendencies.
The next stage of Sirota’s development will be learning when to remain selective and when to become more aggressive against pitches he can damage.
If he finds that balance, his combination of on-base ability, power, speed and defense gives him several paths to a Major League role.
Dodgers Acquired Sirota In Gavin Lux Trade
Sirota’s rise also adds another layer to the trade that sent Gavin Lux to Cincinnati in January 2025.
The Reds originally selected Sirota with the 87th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft after his career at Northeastern.
The Dodgers had previously drafted him out of high school in the 16th round in 2021 but were unable to sign him. They eventually acquired Sirota and a draft pick from Cincinnati for Lux.
Sirota immediately rewarded Los Angeles.
He hit .333/.452/.616 with 13 home runs across 59 games during his first professional season in 2025. A right-knee injury ended that season in July, but he did not require surgery and returned with another productive year in 2026. MiLB.com
Through his first 167 Minor League games, Sirota owns a .316/.458/.558 line with 30 home runs and a 1.016 OPS.
The production has been too consistent to dismiss.
What Would It Take For Sirota To Reach Los Angeles?
The most likely path still begins in Oklahoma City.
Sirota has only nine Triple-A plate appearances. Giving him regular playing time there would allow the Dodgers to evaluate how his approach handles more experienced pitchers before asking him to contribute in Los Angeles.
Several circumstances could accelerate that timeline:
Continued production at Triple-A
An injury in the Major League outfield
A trade involving Teoscar or another veteran
A need for another center-field option
Improvement against left-handed pitching
A strong defensive showing during Spring Training
The Dodgers would also have to clear a 40-man roster spot before promoting him.
Sirota is not currently guaranteed a role, and Chen’s suggestion should not be interpreted as evidence that a promotion has already been planned.
What he has earned is consideration.
Sirota Could Make The Outfield Decision More Complicated
The Dodgers want to create opportunities for younger players without weakening a roster expected to compete for a championship.
De Paula is the obvious candidate to receive the first opportunity.
Sirota may not be far behind.
His right-handed bat offers roster balance. His defensive versatility gives the Dodgers several ways to use him. His plate discipline could translate into immediate value even before he reaches his full power potential.
There are still questions about his contact against secondary pitches, production against lefties and limited Triple-A experience.
But after reaching base at a .461 clip while advancing three levels in one season, Sirota has positioned himself to force the Dodgers into a decision.
He does not need to pass De Paula.
He needs to show that the Dodgers’ next young outfielder might not be limited to one name.
Could Mike Sirota earn a Dodgers opportunity in 2027, or should Los Angeles give him a full season at Triple-A?