Ronan Kopp Added to 40-Man Roster & Protected from Rule-5 Draft
The Dodgers have added LHP Ronan Kopp to the 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule-5 Draft
LOS ANGELES, CA—Before tonight's 40-man roster deadline, the Los Angeles Dodgers have added left-handed pitcher Ronan Kopp to the roster, protecting him from December’s Rule-5 Draft.
All teams had until 3 PM PT on Tuesday to add players to their 40-man rosters, ensuring they wouldn't be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft scheduled for December 10th, which concludes this year’s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida.
Picks in the Rule-5 Draft are ordered in reverse order to that season’s standings. Teams that make a selection must pay $100,000 to the original club of the selected player. Making a selection is optional for teams, a stark contrast to traditional drafts.
Players selected in the first round of the Rule 5 draft must stay on their new team’s Major League roster all season or be eligible to be returned to their previous team.
Adding Kopp pushes the 40-man roster to 39 players, leaving just one space open for any free agent signings or trades.
Kopp, a 23-year-old from Baldwin Park, has just finished his fifth Minor League season since he was selected in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
Kopp spent the year with Double-A Tulsa before being promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City in July. He finished with a combined record of 2-4, a 3.43 ERA, and a 1.53 WHIP across 49 appearances.
With Kopp being the only player added to the 40-man roster, that’s back-to-back offseasons with the Dodgers only protecting one player from potential Rule-5 draft selection. Last year, their lone add was left-hander Jack Dreyer, who ended up being one of the best relief pitchers for Los Angeles in 2025.