Scouting Report

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

Because Hope didn't spend much time on the high school showcase circuit and appeared strongly committed to North Carolina, he went unselected during the first two days of the 2023 Draft, and the Dodgers were ready to pounce on him in the 11th round. While the Cubs beat them to the punch 14 picks ahead of them and signed Hope for $400,000 (fifth-round money), Los Angeles got him and lefty pitching prospect Jackson Ferris six months later in a trade for Michael Busch and Yency Almonte. A stress fracture in a rib slowed him in first full year as a pro, but he starred in the Arizona Fall League that offseason before playing in the Futures Game and ranking in the top three in the High-A Midwest League in doubles (27), extra-base hits (43), total bases (188), walks (81) and RBI (75) in 2025 at age 20.

Hope has added significant muscle since turning pro, is built like a running back and possesses well above-average raw power from the left side of the plate. His bat speed and strength produce high-end exit velocities, and he has no trouble driving balls in the air to his pull side. He executes good swing decisions as well but swings and misses at strikes much more than he should, especially at the top and bottom of the zone.

Hope accelerates quickly and possesses solid speed along with aggression on the basepaths and in the outfield. He's a fearless defender capable of handling center field, though he spent more time on the corners in High-A playing alongside speedster Kendall George. He has a strong arm and drew interest as a left-handed pitcher in high school, flashing a mid-90s fastball and spinning a promising curveball.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 60

After Hope didn't get picked during the first two days of the 2023 Draft because he hadn't played much on the high school showcase circuit and appeared to be strongly committed to North Carolina, the Dodgers planned to take him in the 11th round. The Cubs beat them to the punch and signed Hope for $400,000 (fifth-round money), then dealt him and lefty pitching prospect Jackson Ferris to Los Angeles six months later in exchange for Michael Busch and Yency Almonte. He hit .287/.415/.490 in 54 games in Single-A at age 19 last summer despite dealing with a stress fracture in his rib that cost him three months, then was the most dynamic player in the Arizona Fall League, where he crushed a 470-foot home run.

Hope has added significant strength since turning pro and does everything scouts want to see a young hitter do. He makes advanced swing decisions and quality contact, produces elite exit velocities and understands how to pull pitches for power. He has an efficient left-handed swing and could generate 30-homer pop once he learns to lift balls more consistently.

While Hope isn't especially quick out of the batter's box and has slowed a bit as he has added muscle, he's still a solid runner underway and a capable basestealer. A twitchy athlete, he covers ground and is fearless in center field, though he played mostly left at Single-A in deference to speedster Kendall George. Some clubs were intrigued by Hope's potential as a left-handed pitcher in high school, where he pushed his fastball into the mid-90s and spun a curveball with promising shape.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 70 | Arm: 65 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

One of the most intriguing sleepers in the 2023 Draft, Hope went unselected in the first 10 rounds because he hadn't participated much on the showcase circuit and was thought to be strongly committed to attending college at North Carolina. The Dodgers planned to select the Virginia prep product in the 11th round, only to get beaten to the punch by the Cubs, who landed him for $400,000. Los Angeles landed him six months later, acquiring him and lefty pitching prospect Jackson Ferris in a January trade for Michael Busch and Yency Almonte.

A twitchy athlete with a beautiful left-handed stroke, Hope already produces 110-mph exit velocities as a teenager. He hasn't seen a lot of quality pitching and tends to chase pitches out of the zone, so he likely will need some time to hone his approach and develop at the plate. But his combination of easy bat speed, growing strength and some natural loft in his swing could translate into plus power in his prime.

Hope's plus-plus speed contributes to his 30-30 upside and allows him to cover plenty of ground in center field. He also has well above-average arm strength that intrigued some clubs on the mound. As a left-handed pitcher, he ran his fastball into the mid-90s and displayed promising shape with his curveball.

Awards

AFL Rising Stars

Year	Team
2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	02/09/2026	Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster CF Zyhir Hope to spring training.
	09/09/2025	CF Zyhir Hope assigned to Tulsa Drillers from Great Lakes Loons.
	07/18/2025	Great Lakes Loons activated CF Zyhir Hope.
	07/11/2025	National League Futures activated CF Zyhir Hope.
	07/11/2025	Great Lakes Loons placed CF Zyhir Hope on the temporarily inactive list.
	04/03/2025	CF Zyhir Hope assigned to Great Lakes Loons.
	03/06/2025	activated CF Zyhir Hope.
	01/24/2025	Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster CF Zyhir Hope to spring training.
	11/08/2024	National League Fall Stars activated OF Zyhir Hope.
	09/25/2024	OF Zyhir Hope assigned to Glendale Desert Dogs.
	07/26/2024	Rancho Cucamonga Quakes activated OF Zyhir Hope from the 7-day injured list.
	07/26/2024	Rancho Cucamonga Quakes activated OF Zyhir Hope from the 7-day injured list.
	07/15/2024	Rancho Cucamonga Quakes sent OF Zyhir Hope on a rehab assignment to ACL Dodgers.
	04/30/2024	Rancho Cucamonga Quakes placed OF Zyhir Hope on the 7-day injured list.
	03/24/2024	OF Zyhir Hope assigned to Los Angeles Dodgers.
	03/12/2024	OF Zyhir Hope assigned to Los Angeles Dodgers.
	03/07/2024	Los Angeles Dodgers Prospects activated OF Zyhir Hope.
	01/11/2024	Los Angeles Dodgers traded 2B Michael Busch and RHP Yency Almonte to Chicago Cubs for LHP Jackson Ferris and OF Zyhir Hope.
	01/11/2024	OF Zyhir Hope assigned to Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
	09/14/2023	OF Zyhir Hope assigned to Myrtle Beach Pelicans from ACL Cubs.
	09/14/2023	Myrtle Beach Pelicans activated OF Zyhir Hope.
	07/29/2023	OF Zyhir Hope assigned to ACL Cubs.
	07/25/2023	Chicago Cubs signed OF Zyhir Hope.
	06/15/2023	OF Zyhir Hope assigned to College Workout.