Dodgers minor league right-hander Patrick Copen had a strong 2025 season, and started his 2026 season on a heater. On Tuesday, Copen was named Texas League pitcher of the month for April after a strong start for Double-A Tulsa.
Copen had a 0.96 ERA, 2.72 FIP, and 3.69 xFIP in five starts for the Drillers, allowing six runs (three earned) on 14 hits and 14 walks in his 28 innings, with 37 strikeouts during April. He had two different starts allowing no runs on one hit in 6 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts — April 10 at the Springfield Cardinals (not allowing the hit until the seventh inning), and April 23 at the Frisco RoughRiders. He won Texas League pitcher of the week for the latter start, one of two Tulsa pitchers to earn weekly honors in April along with left-hander Luke Fox.
Last season, Copen made 10 starts for High-A Great Lakes before getting promoted to Tulsa to make 17 more starts in Double-A. In all he posted a 3.59 ERA in 27 starts and led all Dodgers minor league pitchers with 152 strikeouts. Copen only allowed two home runs all last season, one in Double-A, and has yet to allow a home run in 2026.
Copen’s numbers have improved in repeating Double-A so far this season:
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2025 with Tulsa: 17 starts, 4.52 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 23.1-percent K rate, 16-percent BB rate
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2026 with Tulsa: 5 starts, 0.96 ERA, 2.72 FIP, 33.6-percent K rate, 12.7-percent BB rate
Copen is scheduled to start next on Wednesday afternoon for the Drillers, on the road to face the Arkansas Travelers, a Seattle Mariners affiliate.
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