Dodgers notes: Zach Root, Don Drysdale, Patrick Copen

GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 21: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zach Root (41) throws a pitch against the Chicago White Sox in a Spring Breakout Game on March 21, 2026, at Camelback Ranch at Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Zach Root was the Dodgers’ first draft pick last year, with the left-handed pitcher from Arkansas going 40th overall , right before his college teammate Charles Davalan was selected by the Dodgers at No. 41 .

Root did not pitch in the minors last season, and did not appear in a major league spring game, so his appearance in the spring breakout game on Saturday night at Camelback Ranch was a professional coming out party of sorts. Root was incredible, with eight strikeouts in three scoreless innings. Zach Root ties the Spring Breakout single-game strikeout record in a DOMINANT outing 🔥 3 IP | 1 H | 0 R | 0 BB | 8 K The @Dodgers ' 2025 first-rounder racks up 9 whiffs and 12 called strikes: pic.

twitter. com/wf9k2TdTNZ — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 22, 2026 Keith Law at The Athletic had high praise for the left-hander after watching the spring breakout game : The four-seamer was 92-97 last year, but Root is a Dodger now, so of course he was 96-99 and got four whiffs on the pitch in 22 total fastballs (18. 2 percent).

He went heavier on the curveball in this outing, 82-84 with big vertical break, pounding the zone with that pitch while also mixing in a few sliders up to 92 and changeup, the latter possibly a hybrid split-change. I had him as a first-round talent last spring and I think the Dodgers got a steal here. For his efforts, Root on Monday was named to the all-spring breakout first team, along with James Tibbs III, who started at first base for the Dodgers, walked three times and homered, driving in four runs.