Dodgers Prospect Emil Morales Reaches 25 Home Runs and MiLB-Leading 113 RBIs
The Los Angeles Dodgers have no shortage of highly regarded prospects.
But few players in the organization are producing quite like Emil Morales right now.
The 19-year-old shortstop continued his breakout season Friday night by launching his 25th home run of the year for High-A Great Lakes in a 3-2 win over Lansing at Dow Diamond.
The two-run shot did more than give Morales another milestone.
It pushed his season total to 113 RBIs — the most in all of Minor League Baseball.
And the numbers only become more impressive when looking at what Morales has done recently.
Morales Is Having a Huge August
Friday’s home run was Morales’ seventh of August, already the highest home-run total he has produced in any month of his professional career.
Through 22 August games entering Saturday, Morales had driven in 27 runs while posting a 1.022 OPS.
That gives him an excellent chance to finish with an OPS above 1.000 for a second consecutive month.
His power surge has also been sustained rather than concentrated into one short stretch.
Morales hit three home runs in three consecutive games earlier in August, and his Friday blast was his 19th homer since joining High-A Great Lakes.
For a player who does not turn 20 until September, producing that kind of damage against High-A pitching is notable.
25 Home Runs Across Two Levels
Morales began the season at Single-A Ontario before earning a May promotion to Great Lakes.
He has handled the jump impressively.
Between the two levels, Morales entered Saturday batting .294 with a .931 OPS, along with the 25 home runs and 113 RBIs.
His production with Great Lakes alone has also been substantial.
Friday’s home run was his 19th in High-A, meaning only six of his 25 long balls came before his promotion.
That is an encouraging sign because advancement through the Minor Leagues typically means facing pitchers with better command, sharper secondary pitches and more developed game plans.
Morales has continued hitting anyway.
The RBI total may be the most eye-catching statistic, but his overall offensive production suggests this is about considerably more than simply batting with runners on base.
He is consistently getting on base and hitting for power.
MLB Pipeline Has Taken Notice
Morales’ rise has also been reflected in the prospect rankings.
MLB Pipeline’s midseason update lists him as the No. 4 prospect in the Dodgers organization and the No. 24 prospect in all of baseball.
That represents significant progress for a player still in only his third professional season.
Morales was signed by the Dodgers as part of their 2024 international class for approximately $1.9 million after being ranked among the top international players available. He was born in Spain and later trained in the Dominican Republic before signing with Los Angeles.
He immediately began validating the Dodgers’ investment.
Morales was named the Dominican Summer League MVP and Top Prospect in 2024 after batting .342 with a 1.169 OPS and 14 home runs in 46 games.
He continued producing after coming to the United States in 2025.
Now 2026 has turned into another major step forward.
Power Is Becoming Morales’ Calling Card
MLB Pipeline currently gives Morales a 60-grade power tool on the traditional 20-80 scouting scale, which represents above-average projected Major League power.
The reason is becoming easy to see.
Morales already has a large 6-foot-3 frame, generates significant bat speed and has shown an ability to lift the baseball without completely sacrificing his approach.
He is not simply selling out for home runs.
MLB Pipeline has praised his willingness to work counts and wait for pitches he can drive, while also noting that handling advanced secondary pitches will remain an important part of his development.
That last point is important.
Twenty-five home runs at age 19 are exciting.
They do not mean Morales is a finished product.
He still has developmental steps ahead, particularly as he eventually faces Double-A and Triple-A pitching.
But the foundation is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Can Morales Stay at Shortstop?
Another part of Morales’ development will be his eventual defensive home.
The Dodgers continue using him at shortstop, and MLB Pipeline currently lists him as a shortstop/third baseman.
At 6-foot-3 and still physically developing, there has long been some question about whether Morales will eventually outgrow the position.
Pipeline evaluators believe his instincts, hands and arm give him a legitimate opportunity to remain at short, though third base could become a possibility if he loses quickness as he matures.
For the Dodgers, the bat is likely to determine much of the conversation.
If Morales develops into the type of middle-of-the-order hitter his current production suggests he could become, Los Angeles will find a position for him.
One of the Dodgers’ Best Prospect Stories of 2026
The Dodgers’ farm system remains one of the strongest in baseball even after Los Angeles moved several notable prospects at the Trade Deadline.
MLB Pipeline currently has six Dodgers prospects inside its Top 100 rankings. Morales sits behind only Josue De Paula, Mike Sirota and Eduardo Quintero within the organization.
That is impressive company.
And Morales is creating a strong case to continue climbing.
His professional career numbers entering Saturday stood at a .309 average, 53 home runs, 229 RBIs and a .963 OPS.
Those totals cover several levels and different environments, but the consistency is what stands out.
He dominated the Dominican Summer League.
He continued hitting after moving stateside.
He earned a promotion this season.
And now he is producing some of the best run-production numbers anywhere in Minor League Baseball.
Morales Is Forcing His Way Into the Conversation
It is far too early to start discussing Morales as an immediate Major League option.
He is still 19 and playing in High-A.
Development is rarely linear, and the jump to the upper Minor Leagues will present challenges he has not yet faced.
But prospects earn attention by repeatedly succeeding against the competition in front of them.
Morales is doing that.
His 25th home run gave him another round-number milestone Friday.
His 113th RBI kept him atop all of Minor League Baseball.
And his scorching August has reinforced why MLB Pipeline now considers him one of the 25 best prospects in the sport.
For Dodgers fans looking beyond the current Major League roster, Morales has become one of the most compelling players to follow.
At 19 years old, Emil Morales is already producing like one of the most dangerous run producers in the Minor Leagues — and his breakout season continues to get harder to ignore.