Dodgers Have Tested Prospect Charles Dávalos at Second
The Los Angeles organization is moving the outfield prospect to middle infield in the Arizona Fall League.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Baseball
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have begun transitioning prospect Charles Dávalos from the outfield to second base. He is currently testing the new position while playing for the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League.
Why it matters
The Dodgers have struggled to maintain consistency at second base, utilizing five different starters through the first 152 games of the season. The move aims to address the long-term lack of a primary starter at the position.
Dávalos posted a .292 batting average, .402 on-base percentage, and .535 slugging percentage in High-A Great Lakes, where he also hit 24 home runs. He is the 86th-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline and was drafted 41st overall in 2023.
The players
Charles Dávalos
He is a highly touted prospect drafted 41st overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023.
Los Angeles Dodgers
They are a professional Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles that competes in the National League West division.
Kim Hye-seong
He is a professional baseball player currently competing for playing time within the Dodgers middle-infield rotation.
Miguel Rojas
He is a veteran infielder for the Dodgers who is approaching free agency at age 37.
MLB Pipeline
This is the official prospect ranking and scouting analysis division of Major League Baseball.
The details
Dávalos originally debuted as an outfielder but is now undergoing a defensive position change to help bolster the Dodgers middle-infield depth. The team believes that if the transition succeeds, he could evolve into a top offensive prospect for the organization.
Timeline
Charles Dávalos was drafted 41st overall in 2023.
Sports Illustrated reported the position change on September 18, 2026.
Miguel Rojas will become a free agent after the 2026 season.
Dávalos could potentially challenge Kim Hye-seong for playing time in one to two years.
Season Trajectory
The transition of Dávalos fits within the broader Dodgers strategy to secure long-term middle-infield stability as the franchise nears a transition away from veteran players. This shift influences the team's internal development roadmap and potential future roster composition.
The move suggests Dávalos is being fast-tracked to potentially occupy a middle-infield spot within the next two years. His successful conversion would provide a significant offensive boost to the second base position, which has been a rotational struggle this season.
The takeaway
The Dodgers are prioritizing positional flexibility to solve chronic middle-infield turnover. Fans should watch for Dávalos in the Arizona Fall League to see if his defensive output can match his promising High-A offensive statistics.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster moves, visit Los Angeles Baseball.
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