The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up their top prospect, outfielder Josue De Paula, to make his Major League Baseball debut this weekend. The promotion comes as Shohei Ohtani has been placed on the injured list due to right arm and left knee issues.
De Paula's call-up marks a significant jump, as he will be the first Dodgers hitter under President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman to be promoted directly from Double-A to the majors. The 21-year-old has established himself as the top prospect in the Dodgers' farm system and a highly-ranked prospect overall in baseball, with his performance this season solidifying his readiness for the big leagues.
In his most recent outing with Double-A Tulsa, De Paula had a standout performance, hitting a solo home run, an RBI double, and drawing a bases-loaded walk. This showcase of power and discipline has been a recurring theme for him throughout the season. Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes described De Paula as "starting to round out as a complete hitter."
De Paula, who signed for less than $400,000 as an amateur in 2022, has rapidly ascended through the minor league ranks. The New York native, nephew of former NBA player Stephon Marbury, has drawn comparisons to Yordan Alvarez for his powerful left-handed swing. He broke into affiliated minor league ball at 18 in 2023 and earned MVP honors at MLB's Futures Game last season. He has consistently appeared in top prospect rankings from Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.
This past spring, the Dodgers challenged De Paula to improve his corner outfield defense and his overall daily process. Gomes noted that De Paula has shown significant progress, particularly in his focus and effort on defense, easing concerns about his fielding capabilities at the major league level. Jason Heyward, a special assistant for the Dodgers, provided hands-on coaching in this area.
At the plate, De Paula has evolved from a raw hitter to a more mature offensive threat. A mechanical adjustment, involving lowering his hands and straightening his release, has contributed to his improved swing. "He was getting too twisted and kind of fighting himself," Gomes said of De Paula’s previous swing, which had previously not exceeded 12 home runs in a season. This evolution has led to significant improvements in situational hitting, with a .389 average with runners in scoring position leading the Texas League.
De Paula's ability to shorten his swing with two strikes and use the entire field has also improved, boasting an .828 OPS in such counts. "He has always been a really good performer," Gomes said. "The ability to go the other way and work at-bats, it was just another step."
Manager Dave Roberts expressed confidence in De Paula's ability to handle major league at-bats, stating, "He doesn’t run from velocity. He controls the strike zone. I think this is just a good opportunity for him to kind of cut his teeth in the big leagues."
De Paula is currently ranked No. 4 in Baseball America's overall prospect rankings and No. 6 in MLB Pipeline's. His promotion was also a logistical consideration, as he would have required a spot on the Dodgers' 40-man roster this offseason to be protected from the Rule 5 draft.