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6d ago

Josue De Paula’s Early Surge Forces Dodgers to Reconsider October Bench

His clutch hitting and clubhouse buzz have made the Dodgers weigh a playoff role even though roster rules and defensive questions are not settled.

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An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers wearing a blue hat and sleeveless hoodie, resting his arm on the railing of the dugout, with a baseball glove on his hand, Image 2 shows A young man in a white jersey and black durag leans on a railing, watching the game with an intense expression
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Overview

  • The Dodgers promoted 21-year-old Josue De Paula from Double-A after Shohei Ohtani went on the injured list, and he delivered a go-ahead RBI double in his Dodger Stadium debut on Friday that helped an 8-2 win over the Giants.
  • De Paula has shown exceptional plate discipline in a very small sample, drawing many walks, limiting strikeouts and compiling an OPS above .900 through his first week with the club.
  • Multiple reports and teammates praise his approach at the plate but note outfield defense as a clear weakness that De Paula has publicly vowed to fix.
  • Because De Paula was not on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster by the Sept. 1 deadline, the team would need an injury-exemption or approval from MLB to include him on a postseason roster.
  • A viral dugout clip of De Paula doing a double-take after high-fiving Ohtani has amplified his profile, and Ohtani’s gradual return to baseball activity could change the Dodgers’ October roster choices.