5 Things Dodgers Fans Need to Know About Top Prospect Josue De Paula
· Yahoo Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paula is finally getting his long-awaited call-up, and he comes with a lot of prospect hype.
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De Paula is the No. 17th-ranked prospect in baseball, according to FanGraphs, and the No. 18th prospect according to MLB.
Despite his status as a star prospect, with so many fans focused on the major league squad and this season, Dodgers fans may have missed out on what he has been up to and his background.
Mar 4, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of the jersey of Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paula (95) against Team Mexico during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesHere are five key facts about Josue De Paula, featuring research done by Dodger Nation’s very own Noel Sanchez:
1. His call-up is historic
“At just 21-years-old, De Paula is the first Dodgers position player ever under Friedman to skip Triple-A completely and jump to the big leagues,” Sanchez explained.
The Dodgers are known for calling up players and making sure they have a path to playing time. The move to bring him up speaks volumes about where De Paula is.
2. He is having a great 2026 season
De Paula is totally crushing it in Double-A, leading to his promotion. The Dodgers felt confident he could carry his results and process to the major leagues.
“Over 124 games at Double-A this season, he has hit 27 home runs, 104 RBI’s and has posted .303 batting average with a .401 OBP. DePaula is the 18th ranked prospect in all of baseball and is believed to have the Dodgers best pure hit tool since Corey Seager,” he added.
The Dodgers make their move: Josue De Paula is getting called up from Double-A.
— Nelson Espinal (@nelson__espinal) September 10, 2026
De Paula has been lauded as the Dodgers prospect with the best swing since Corey Seager.
Now, he gets the chance to show what he can bring to a veteran lineup. pic.twitter.com/G7cS1YKXEl
3. De Paula is from the Dominican Republic
De Paula was born in Brooklyn, though he moved to the Dominican Republic in high school and signed with the Dodgers for $397,500 in 2022.
“At just 15-years-old, De Paula chose to move to the Dominican Republic because the covid pandemic shut down baseball in his area,” the Dodgers Nation content creator said.
“He lived in a 2-story house with 35 other prospects at El Niche Baseball Academy, the same academy Juan Soto and Elly De La Cruz attended.”
4. His defense worries are overstated
“Some fans are worried about De Paula’s defense after some clips circulated online this season but he will be getting bulk of his run with the Dodgers at DH with Shohei Ohtani going to the IL,” Sanchez explained.
“Dave Roberts said he could get some opportunities in the outfield in the 15 days that Ohtani is out but he will primarily be DH.”
With De Paula, the issue isn’t his ability to get to tough balls in the outfield, but his consistency in making routine, medium plays. Luckily, the plan is to avoid exposing his defense and allow him to focus on hitting the ball.
5. He has NBA ties
“Growing up in Brooklyn, he is cousins with both Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair,” Sanchez said.
De Paula is the second cousin of both basketball players, showing he has a strong athletic bloodline to lean on.
For more on De Paula and the decision to call him up, check out Sanchez’s video below.
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