Dodgers Prospect Josue De Paula Draws Juan Soto Comparisons Amid Rapid MLB Rise

Just four games into his major league career, Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Josue De Paula has drawn comparisons to slugger Juan Soto and earned a promotion to the leadoff spot in the team's lineup. His rapid ascent has also put him in contention for a postseason roster spot.

During Wednesday night's game against the Cincinnati Reds, De Paula took a low sinker from pitcher Nick Lodolo in the fifth inning. His reaction—bending his knees and widening his stance—reminded observers of Soto's trademark "Soto shuffle." Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis and MLB's official X account both noted the similarity in real time.

De Paula, who signed with the Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic in 2022, has idolized Dominican stars such as Soto and Elly De La Cruz. Through their shared representation by Boras Corporation, De Paula has developed relationships with both players, even exchanging an embrace with De La Cruz before a recent game. He aims to incorporate De La Cruz's "electricness" and Soto's plate discipline into his own game.

While De Paula stated he wasn't intentionally trying to imitate Soto's shuffle, he acknowledged the subconscious influence. "I can understand how it looks like a Soto shuffle. And if people think it looks like that, hey, I’m not mad at it," he told the California Post.

De Paula was called up from double-A last week to replace the injured Shohei Ohtani as the Dodgers' designated hitter. In his first four games, he reached base in half of his plate appearances and recorded his first two hits on Sunday against the Miami Marlins, including a three-run homer and a double. Manager Dave Roberts praised De Paula's calm demeanor and consistent performance since joining the majors.

On Tuesday, De Paula was placed in the leadoff spot, marking his fifth consecutive start. Roberts indicated that De Paula is already being considered for the postseason roster, likely as a left-handed option off the bench, assuming Ohtani returns from injury and other outfielders maintain their positions.

De Paula has expressed gratitude for the support from his veteran teammates, including conversations with Mookie Betts about outfield defense. He noted the welcoming clubhouse environment, with players encouraging him to "just be you."

So far, De Paula has shown a strong command of the strike zone, entering Tuesday without a strikeout. He has also demonstrated power, with six of his nine batted balls registering at 97 mph or harder. His performance has the Dodgers contemplating his role in their postseason plans, potentially turning a prospect who admired stars into an impact player himself.