Patrick Copen is making noise in the Dodgers' farm system, and April was his loudest month yet. The right-handed pitcher for Double-A Tulsa was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Month on Tuesday, riding a scorching start to the 2026 season that has fans and scouts alike taking notice.

Over five starts in April, Copen posted a microscopic 0.96 ERA, backed by a solid 2.72 FIP and a 3.69 xFIP. He allowed just six runs (three earned) on 14 hits and 14 walks across 28 innings, while striking out an impressive 37 batters. Two of those outings were absolute gems: on April 10 against the Springfield Cardinals, he didn't allow a hit until the seventh inning, finishing with one hit and nine strikeouts over 6 1/3 scoreless frames. He duplicated that feat on April 23 against the Frisco RoughRiders, earning Texas League Pitcher of the Week honors. Copen wasn't alone in the spotlight—fellow Drillers left-hander Luke Fox also earned weekly honors in April.

Copen's rise has been steady. Last season, he split time between High-A Great Lakes (10 starts) and Tulsa (17 starts), posting a combined 3.59 ERA in 27 outings. He led all Dodgers minor league pitchers with 152 strikeouts and allowed just two home runs all year—one of which came in Double-A. So far in 2026, he's yet to give up a long ball.

The numbers tell the story of a pitcher who's taken a big step forward in his second go-around at Double-A. In 2025 with Tulsa, Copen had a 4.52 ERA, a 3.98 FIP, a 23.1% strikeout rate, and a 16% walk rate. This season? A 0.96 ERA, 2.72 FIP, 33.6% strikeout rate, and an improved 12.7% walk rate. That's the kind of growth that turns prospects into future big leaguers.

Next up for Copen: a Wednesday afternoon start on the road against the Arkansas Travelers, the Seattle Mariners' Double-A affiliate. If April was any indication, he's ready to keep the hot streak alive.