Josue De Paula’s name on the Dodgers’ postseason roster came with a jolt, even for the player himself.
The Dodgers star prospect said he was caught off guard when he learned he had made the group, and he admitted the moment hit hard. De Paula had already logged a short but eye-catching major league stint, spending two weeks with the club while Shohei Ohtani was on the injured list.
Once Ohtani was ready to be activated, De Paula was sent back down, a move that left plenty of fans disappointed. Now, though, he’s back in the picture as the Dodgers’ top pinch-hit option off the bench.
“I was kind of shocked. I was shocked.
I was happy. It was a lot of emotions going on at the same time and a lot of thoughts going into it, like envisioning how this is going to go,” De Paula said.
“I’m just going along for the ride and see how everything comes at me.”
De Paula said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts congratulated him in their conversation and made clear he believes in what the young hitter can do at the plate.
The decision to carry De Paula comes after his impressive run in the majors. In 11 big-league games, he hit .323/.500/.545 with a 1.081 OPS. He showed a steady approach at the plate and a strong sense of what was coming his way.
He was competing with Dalton Rushing for the left-handed pinch-hit role, and the Dodgers ultimately leaned toward De Paula. Rushing can hit, especially for a catcher, but his elbow injury keeps him from helping defensively. De Paula, by contrast, profiles as a pure hitter with an approach that fits the job better, especially since Ohtani handles the designated hitter spot full time.
That leaves De Paula waiting for his postseason moment, with the Dodgers confident he’ll get it at some point.
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Dave Roberts has already made one adjustment by limiting Pages ability to challenge calls, a small but telling sign that the club is trying to manage both the player and the moment. If the struggles continue, the Dodgers do not appear short on alternatives, which only adds to the tension around Pages spot. In October, even a young hitter with legitimate upside can find himself one rough stretch away from a lineup debate. [Read more 🡒]