Shohei Ohtani, one of the most talented players ever to step on a baseball diamond, was recently placed on the injured list and will be tough to replace. But the Los Angeles Dodgers are taking their shot at substituting for Ohtani by calling up outfielder Josue De Paula, the organization’s top prospect and one of the best in the sport.
The 21-year-old made his major league debut this past weekend in Miami, and he showcased just about everything expected of the No.6 overall MLB prospect. Across the three-game series, De Paula went two for seven, blasted a monstrous homer and drove in three runs. He also drew four walks and didn’t strike out.
On his first big-league bomb, De Paula turned on a 98-mph fastball from Eury Pérez. It was a towering shot that traveled 416 feet, and he knew it on contact, admiring the homer from the batter’s box. De Paula’s other knock was a double off a hanging splitter that he ripped into right-center, nearly leaving Marlins Park for another home run. Both hits came off his bat at 108 mph.
Oozing confidence in his first taste of the Show, De Paula gave a glimpse of how he could contribute to the Dodgers’ chase for a third consecutive World Series title. Los Angeles elevated De Paula from Double-A, showing confidence in the young lefty’s approach at the plate. He is an extremely patient hitter, and when he does make contact, his bat creates thunderous noise and explosive production.
This season with the Tulsa Drillers, De Paula was slashing .303/.401/.547. He logged 81 walks to just 87 strikeouts, with 27 homers, 104 RBI, and 31 stolen bases. After his results didn’t completely translate to his elite tools for a few years, De Paula’s game has transcended in 2026.
Brooklyn Born, Mom Is Black, Pops Is Dominican: Related To Stephon Marbury, Telfair
Born and raised in Brooklyn, De Paula moved to the Dominican Republic while in high school to continue playing baseball during the pandemic. His father’s side has Dominican roots, and after training at the Niche Baseball Academy in Santo Domingo, De Paula signed with the Dodgers in 2022 at 16.
De Paula’s athletic background runs even deeper, as he is the second cousin of former NBA guards Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair. At 6-3, 185 pounds, and posting eye-popping exit velocities, scouts have compared De Paula to more athletic versions of Yordan Álvarez and Juan Soto, with his rare combination of strong decisions and incredible damage. During the 2025 Futures Game, De Paula took home MVP honors after mashing a three-run homer against fellow southpaw Noah Schultz.
When the Dodgers acquired Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline, they traded away another touted MLBbro prospect, Zyhir Hope, in the three-player package, desiring to hold onto De Paula. Now with this promotion, Los Angeles’ No. 1 prospect has been thrown into the fire, but is already handling the extreme transition well.
It’s all hands on deck for the Dodgers and manager Dave Roberts in their quest for a three-peat, and they believe De Paula can help them achieve it. If he keeps producing, De Paula will be on the playoff roster and could be one of this season’s breakout postseason rookies.
