The Los Angeles Dodgers are shifting prospect Charles Davalan to second base this autumn, a tactical move designed to clear a path for the Quebec native toward the Major Leagues by 2027.
According to reporting from PassionMLB, the organization assigned the 20-year-old to the position during the Arizona Fall League to expand his defensive versatility.
Davalan, ranked as the club’s 79th-best prospect, has spent the last two seasons primarily as an outfielder. The Dodgers still have deep outfield depth. The major league roster features established contributors such as Teoscar Hernandez, Andy Pages, and Kyle Tucker, while the farm system is heavily concentrated with outfield talent.
The decision to move Davalan stems from a crowded path to the majors. Even after trading prospect Zyhir Hope to the Detroit Tigers for Tarik Skubal, the Dodgers retain five of their top seven prospects in the outfield.
Among them is Josue De Paula, who the club intends to promote in 2027 following a strong performance in late 2026. Because Shohei Ohtani occupies the designated hitter role, De Paula must compete for playing time in the outfield.
The @Dodgers have so many talented outfielders that figuring out if Davalan can return to second base makes plenty of sense: https://t.co/GtVQ2nBp4E https://t.co/7pcCJ2Tx2w
By moving Davalan—the organization’s sixth-ranked prospect—to second base, the Dodgers are attempting to provide him a clearer route to the big leagues. While Davalan lacks professional experience at second base in the minor leagues, the team is evaluating his comfort level at the position during the fall instructional schedule.
Davalan spent the majority of the 2026 season playing at the High-A level, with a single appearance in Double-A. Moving to the middle infield changes his development as he prepares for a potential major league debut in 2027.
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