Josue De Paula Dodgers Call-Up: Top Prospect Skips Triple-A for MLB Debut
The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up top outfield prospect Josue De Paula, according to a report by Alden González of ESPN. Because the team is off, the move will become official ahead of Friday’s series opener in Miami. De Paula spends his entire age-21 campaign at the Double-A level with Tulsa, where he posts a stellar .302/.400/.539 batting line across 583 plate appearances, according to team data. He connects on 26 home runs, 36 doubles, two triples, and steals 31 bases while getting caught 10 times.
Breaking Front Office Precedent to Skip Triple-A
Promoting De Paula directly from Double-A marks a rare structural shift for the franchise. Katie Woo of The Athletic observes that this is the first time in 12 years under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman that the Dodgers are calling up a position player prospect straight from Double-A. Evaluators across the industry hold the young left-handed hitter in high regard. Baseball America ranks him fourth, MLB Pipeline slots him sixth, and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel places him 10th among all baseball prospects.
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Corresponding Roster Moves and Injury Context
The exact corresponding roster moves remain unconfirmed, but the promotion arrives alongside mounting health concerns for the major-league club. Manager Dave Roberts tells reporters that Shohei Ohtani could require a stint on the 15-day injured list, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Ohtani sits out another lineup due to lingering left knee discomfort and right arm soreness over the past week-plus, having already been ruled out from pitching again in 2026. Freddie Freeman also misses time with right knee soreness, though Roberts indicates that situation will not require an injured list placement, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
Scouting Report and Offensive Profile
Scouting evaluations highlight an advanced hit-and-power combination that allows De Paula to dominate older Double-A pitchers in the Texas League. He registers a .939 OPS, ranking seventh among league hitters with at least 200 plate appearances, while drawing a 13.7% walk rate and striking out in under 15% of his trips to the plate. Defensively, scouts project him as a below-average corner outfielder or a pure designated hitter, meaning his value relies almost entirely on his left-handed bat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Josue De Paula eligible for the postseason roster?
Players do not need to be on the 40-man roster by September 1 to be postseason eligible; they only need to be in the organization by that date. The Dodgers would need to petition Major League Baseball for permission to add De Paula to the playoff roster, a request leagues routinely grant to organizations every year.
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How does this call-up affect his service time?
The late-season promotion grants De Paula 17 days of service through the end of the season. He retains his rookie eligibility and remains eligible for the Prospect Promotion Incentive next year, keeping him under club control for at least six full seasons.
What do you think of the Dodgers promoting De Paula straight from Double-A? Drop a comment below and share your thoughts on whether he can spark the offense down the stretch!
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