Ben Casparius Bio
Benjamin Keith Casparius, known professionally as Ben Casparius, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on February 11, 1999, he has been a member of the Dodgers organization since being selected in the 2021 MLB Draft. Casparius contributed to the Dodgers’ World Series championship in 2024, appearing in both the National League Championship Series and the World Series during that postseason run.
Casparius played college baseball at both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Connecticut, where he developed into a draft prospect. He quickly rose through the Dodgers’ minor league system before making his major league debut in August 2024. In 2025, he earned a spot on the Dodgers’ opening day roster and served as a key member of the team’s bullpen.
Ben Casparius Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Benjamin Keith Casparius was born on February 11, 1999, and grew up in Connecticut, where he developed his passion for baseball. He attended Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut, where he became one of the most accomplished high school hitters in state history. Casparius set Connecticut’s all-time hits record during his high school career, a remarkable offensive achievement that highlighted his two-way ability as a pitcher and position player.
In 2017, Casparius led Staples High School to a state championship and was named the Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year, cementing his reputation as one of the top amateur talents in the region. His high school success drew attention from college scouts, and he committed to play college baseball at a high level. The combination of his hitting record and his pitching potential made him an intriguing prospect for major league organizations.
Path to Baseball
Casparius began his college career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he spent two seasons as a two-way player. As a freshman, he posted a 1.69 ERA in 10 pitching appearances while also collecting 18 hits and 15 RBI at the plate, helping the Tar Heels reach the College World Series. The following season, he struggled offensively, and the coaching staff asked him to focus primarily on pitching, a transition that resulted in a 4.41 ERA across 12 outings.
During the summers, Casparius gained valuable experience in collegiate baseball leagues, playing for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod League and competing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. After his sophomore year, he transferred to the University of Connecticut Huskies in 2020, but a denied eligibility waiver forced him to sit out his junior season, which was ultimately cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic. He played that summer for the New Britain Bees of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. In 2021, Casparius went 8–5 with a 4.03 ERA in 15 starts for the Huskies, establishing himself as a legitimate professional pitching prospect.
Ben Casparius Career
Early Career (2021-2023)
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Ben Casparius in the fifth round of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft, and he signed with the organization on July 26 for a $247,500 bonus. He spent his first professional season split between the Arizona Complex League Dodgers and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, pitching in five games and allowing just two earned runs across six innings, a strong introduction to professional baseball.
In 2022, Casparius pitched for both Rancho Cucamonga and the Great Lakes Loons, logging 89 and two-thirds innings in 27 games with 16 starts and posting a 6.42 ERA. The following season, he moved between Great Lakes and the Tulsa Drillers, making 26 appearances with 21 starts and finishing 6–7 with a 5.27 ERA. Following the 2023 regular season, Casparius pitched in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs, gaining additional experience against top prospects.
Los Angeles Dodgers Breakthrough (2024)
Casparius opened the 2024 season with Tulsa, making five starts and posting a 3.32 ERA before earning a promotion to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Baseball Club. At Triple-A, he appeared in 16 games with 14 starts, going 4–3 with a 3.36 ERA and recording 72 strikeouts. His performance at Oklahoma City earned him his first major league call-up.
The Dodgers promoted Casparius to the major leagues on August 18, 2024, but he was optioned back to Oklahoma City three days later without appearing in a big league game. He returned to the majors on August 31 and made his MLB debut that day in relief against the Arizona Diamondbacks, throwing a scoreless inning to pick up his first career win. His first major league strikeout came on September 22 against the Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Jones. In total, Casparius pitched eight and one-third innings across three appearances in 2024, finishing with two wins, nine hits allowed, two runs allowed, and 12 strikeouts.
After being left off the Dodgers’ initial postseason roster, Casparius was added midway through the Division Series when Michael Grove suffered an injury, though he did not pitch in that round. He made a significant impact in the National League Championship Series, throwing four and one-third scoreless innings and earning the win in the clinching sixth game. Casparius started Game 4 of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees, allowing one run on one hit and three walks in two innings. It was his only appearance in the series, which the Dodgers won in five games to capture the World Series championship.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2025)
Casparius made the Dodgers’ 2025 opening day roster and quickly became an important member of the bullpen, providing length when needed in relief appearances. In June 2025, several pitching injuries to the Dodgers’ staff led the team to move him into the starting rotation, where he struggled over the following month. By July, the team returned him to the bullpen, and he was optioned back to the minors on September 9.
In 46 games with the Dodgers in 2025, Casparius posted a 7–5 record with a 4.64 ERA and 71 strikeouts, while also making five appearances for Oklahoma City, where he allowed two runs in five and one-third innings. He was on the active roster for the 2025 NLCS but did not appear in any postseason games that year.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Casparius’s young career is his role in the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series championship, which included a Game 4 start against the Yankees and a key win in the NLCS clincher. His first major league win, earned on debut day against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and his first strikeout of Nolan Jones stand as personal milestones. Setting Connecticut’s all-time high school hits record and winning a state title in 2017 also remain notable amateur achievements.
Ben Casparius Personal Life
Family Background and Personal Life
Ben Casparius has been in a relationship with Erin Matson, the head coach of the University of North Carolina field hockey program. The couple has been publicly connected through Casparius’s time playing baseball at North Carolina, where Matson has built a prominent coaching career. Details about his parents and family background are not widely documented in publicly available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Ben Casparius’s 2025 season began on a high note when he secured a spot on the Dodgers’ opening day roster, transitioning from his late-2024 call-up into a full-time bullpen role. Throughout the early months, he served as a versatile reliever capable of providing multiple innings, a valuable skill set for a contending team navigating a long season. His ability to eat innings helped stabilize the Dodgers’ pitching staff during the first half of the year.
In June 2025, a wave of pitching injuries forced the Dodgers to experiment with Casparius as a starter, a role adjustment that proved difficult as he battled command and consistency issues over the following month. By July, the team shifted him back to the bullpen, and he continued to contribute in relief until being optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on September 9. His final 2025 major league line of 46 games, a 7–5 record, a 4.64 ERA, and 71 strikeouts reflected both his resilience and his growing pains as a young pitcher adjusting to multiple roles.
Although Casparius was on the active roster for the 2025 National League Championship Series, he did not appear in any postseason games, leaving his overall playoff footprint largely tied to his 2024 contributions. Heading into 2026, Casparius remains a young, versatile arm in the Dodgers organization, with experience in both starting and relief roles that should position him for continued opportunity at the major league level.