Josue De Paula earned a spot on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 26-man roster for the National League Division Series against Atlanta. The 21-year-old outfielder, the club’s top prospect, will serve as a left-handed bat off the bench after a strong September call-up. Game 1 is Saturday, Oct. 3, at Dodger Stadium.
Josue De Paula’s NLDS roster selection
Josue De Paula is listed on the Dodgers’ NLDS roster as a left-handed bench bat. He is expected to have a limited role in a deep lineup, but manager Dave Roberts likes how he handled the big leagues.
“I think what we saw is a really good idea of the strike zone, quality of contact,” Roberts said. “I think that he’s really unflappable, good heartbeat.”
Andrew Friedman, the president of baseball operations, said the club sees him as “a bullet off the bench in big situations.”
De Paula’s September performance
The Dodgers called Josue De Paula up from Double-A Tulsa on Sept. 11 after Shohei Ohtani went on the injured list with right biceps inflammation. He made his debut that day, according to MLB.com. He became the first Dodgers position player to jump from Double-A straight to the majors since at least 2014.
In 11 games and 42 plate appearances, De Paula went 10-for-31 (.323) with seven RBIs, seven runs scored and 11 walks against five strikeouts.
Los Angeles optioned him to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sept. 23 to make room for Ohtani’s return. That kept the door open for him to come back for the playoffs.
Who is Josue De Paula?
Josue De Paula signed with the Dodgers as an international free agent on Jan. 15, 2022. He climbed through four minor league levels and entered the postseason with a career line of .286/.404/.453, 56 home runs and 280 RBIs in 460 games.
He first drew national attention in 2025, when he won Futures Game MVP honors by hitting a three-run homer in the National League’s 4-2 win, and he returned for the 2026 Futures Game. This year, he hit .303/.401/.547 with 27 home runs and 104 RBIs in 124 games at Tulsa.
Why the Dodgers chose him
Josue De Paula’s plate discipline stands out. He walked 11 times in 42 plate appearances in the majors, and Roberts praised his feel for the strike zone and his composure.
The Dodgers also have limited left-handed options. Catcher Dalton Rushing, another lefty bat, has dealt with a right elbow UCL tear, and Roberts has said he will not catch again this season. Rushing hit 12 home runs this year before the injury, but the Dodgers have used him mainly as a left-handed bat off the bench.
Ohtani’s return gives Los Angeles its full lineup back. In 134 games this season, he hit .277/.380/.522 with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs. On the mound, he went 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 14 starts, per MLB.com. With that much power already in the order, a patient left-handed pinch-hitter such as De Paula gives Roberts a different look late in games.
Los Angeles has used young hitters in October before. In 1981, 21-year-old infielder Steve Sax and pitcher Tom Niedenfuer jumped from Double-A to help the club win the World Series.
What’s next for the Dodgers
The Dodgers open the series at home. Tarik Skubal is their Game 1 starter. Our Braves vs. Dodgers series preview breaks down the matchup.
Skubal, a two-time Cy Young winner, joined the Dodgers from Detroit in early August. The Dodgers and Braves play Games 1 and 2 in Los Angeles, with the rest of the series in Atlanta if necessary. Josue De Paula will be ready if Roberts calls his number.
