Dodgers’ Chase Harlan working to turn elite tools into routine results, starting with defense at the Arizona Fall League

At Peoria under Arizona skies, the Dodgers’ third-base prospect is focused on the one area his pro transition has made hardest to master: defense at the hot corner. The question now is whether he can translate his raw power and arm into consistently playable at-bats and reliable fielding, after a season that mixed flashes with growing pains.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Dodgers’ Chase Harlan is spending extra time at third base in the Arizona Fall League, taking grounders from infield coach Philip Caulfield and working the movements that come before a glove ever makes contact. The immediate goal is straightforward: make defense feel more automatic as he chases his next step in the organization.

Harlan, drafted by Los Angeles in the third round of the 2024 Draft out of the Pennsylvania prep ranks, was originally viewed largely through a power lens, including a 453-foot home run during the Draft Combine at Chase Field. But his pro path has required a positional adjustment, and the Dodgers moved him from shortstop background into a third-base role.

That transition has come with learning curve reminders. In 127 games at the hot corner, Harlan has made 32 errors, a number that reflects the challenge of pairing arm strength with the timing and routine required at third. The Dodgers also had him undergo right-hip labrum surgery, delaying his pro debut until 2025.

The Dodgers’ fall work is framed as a response to that “routine” gap. Caulfield said Harlan’s potential is high and described him as responsive and curious about defensive improvements, with a hunger to get better that has increased as the work has become more familiar.

Offensively, Harlan’s development has already shown that the tools can play, even if consistency is still taking shape. During May in the California League, he hit.388/.481/.694 with 14 extra-base hits and 22 RBIs in 22 games while walking more than he struck out, and he earned California League Hitter of the Month honors. After a surge that included five homers in four contests, he was promoted to High-A Great Lakes at age 19.

That same year later offered a caution sign about variability: after the promotion, Harlan hit.176 with a.546 OPS over his final 20 games. He has acknowledged that when he is “hot” he feels unstoppable, but that he still needs to learn how to get out of cold stretches faster, including dealing with failure that is unavoidable in pro ball.

Why It Matters

Third base is a premium infield role, and the report ties Harlan’s next leap to whether he can turn raw tools into repeatable defensive execution.
The Dodgers appear to be prioritizing the “next step” of development for a power-first prospect, focusing on fielding routine as a prerequisite to moving up.
Harlan’s season pattern, strong stretches followed by cold spells, makes his fall work a test of whether he can smooth out variability while continuing to drive the ball.

Sources

Key Facts

Chase Harlan is working on third-base defense in the Arizona Fall League under Dodgers infield coach Philip Caulfield.
Harlan was drafted by Los Angeles in the third round of the 2024 Draft and signed for more than double his slot, according to the Dodgers release.
The Dodgers moved Harlan from his shortstop background to third base in pro ball, and he underwent right-hip labrum surgery that delayed his pro debut until 2025.
In 127 pro games at third base, Harlan has made 32 errors, per the report.
In May at Single-A Ontario, Harlan hit.388/.481/.694 with 14 extra-base hits and 22 RBIs in 22 games and was named California League Hitter of the Month.
After promotion to High-A Great Lakes, Harlan hit.176 with a.546 OPS over his final 20 games, the Dodgers release says.