Dodgers Calling Up Top Prospect Josue De Paula in Massive Development

The Dodgers are calling him up from Double-A.

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 Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up top prospect Josue De Paula in a massive development.

He will join the team in Miami on Friday.

De Paula is the first position player to be called up straight from Double-A in Andrew Friedman's tenure as the Dodgers' president of baseball operations.

Manager Dave Roberts confirmed after Wednesday's game that De Paula is replacing Shohei Ohtani, who's going on the injured list for the first time as a Dodger due to his lingering knee, biceps and neck injuries.

Who is Josue De Paula?

De Paula is the Dodgers' No. 1 ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The 6-foot-3 outfielder is among the best hitting prospects in baseball, bringing both elite power and speed.

Across 124 games at Double-A Tulsa this year, he slashed .303/.401/.547 with 27 home runs, 104 RBIs and an OPS of .948. He's added 31 stolen bases and has 81 walks to 87 strikeouts.

Josue De Paula in 124 games at Double-A this year:

.303 AVG
.401 OBP
.547 SLG
27 HR
104 RBI
31 SB
87 K/81 BB

The Dodgers' No. 1 overall prospect is skipping Triple-A and heading straight to MLB for the stretch run of the season.

Talk about a late-season spark. pic.twitter.com/ja0cNKgRVQ

— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) September 10, 2026

De Paula initially signed with the Dodgers as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2022. He signed for $397,500.

He quickly rose through the prospect ranks as LA developed him into one of the game's best young players.

MLB Pipeline calls him the "most advanced young hitter Los Angeles has had since Corey Seager."

Seager, of course, is a two-time World Series MVP.

Where Will Josue De Paula Play?

The one knock on De Paula's game has been his defense. He's working hard to improve as a corner outfielder, notably spending time with five-time Gold Glove award winner Jason Heyward, who's now in the Dodgers front office.

“A lot of the conversations for us, to [De Paula] as an organization, are, ‘Hey, you’ve earned these things. You’ve earned the attention. You’ve earned the hype, so to speak,’” Heyward recently said to The Athletic. “But we want to show him the things that are going to help along the way. Next thing you know, you get a call.”

That call came sooner than likely even he expected.

Roberts said De Paula will get the "lion's share" of starts at designated hitter, but could also play in the outfield.

Either way, the Dodgers weren't going to call him up without having a clear path toward everyday playing time.

With Ohtani's injury, he will have one.

It's hard to imagine the Dodgers calling up Josue De Paula (straight from Double-A) without having consistent playing time available.

Nothing is confirmed yet, but it would make sense if the corresponding move was Shohei Ohtani to the IL.

De Paula would then be the everyday DH. pic.twitter.com/ugNc2TMbj0

— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) September 10, 2026

Is Josue De Paula Eligible to Play in the Postseason?

Since he was not on the Dodgers' 40-man roster on Sept. 1, he's technically not eligible to play in the postseason for LA.

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