Josue De Paula’s first trial run in the big leagues just wrapped, with the 21-year-old getting optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City this week. But if you think that means he’s out of the picture, you’d be dead wrong. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it crystal clear: De Paula’s red-hot performance has already earned him a serious spot in the conversation for their postseason roster.
The Kid Just Raked, Plain and Simple
Roberts himself said De Paula “performed more than admirably,” and honestly, even that might be underselling it. In a super small sample size of just 11 games, this 21-year-old stepped up with a confidence and poise that was way beyond his years at the plate. He controlled the strike zone like a seasoned vet, drawing an insane 11 walks. Once the hits started falling, wow. De Paula mashed three doubles and cranked his first MLB homer in Miami. He drove in seven RBIs and posted an absolutely ridiculous 1.081 OPS across 31 at-bats. His last regular season game on Tuesday against the Padres was probably his best yet, going 2-for-3 with a walk and ripping his first career triple in a dominant 7-0 series opener.
Why the Move? And What Comes Next?
So, if he was playing so well, why the send-down? Roberts explained it pretty simply. With Shohei Ohtani back in the lineup on Wednesday, September 23, against the San Diego Padres, and the team needing to get a look at other players competing for a postseason spot, this was always the plan. “This was the original thought,” Roberts said. “That once Shohei gets back, we were going to send [De Paula] out. We had a runway to give him, which we gave him.” He crushed that runway. The Dodgers are no stranger to deep October runs, snagging their ninth championship in 2025, which was their third in the last five years. They know what it takes.
Now, Roberts is seriously considering De Paula for that postseason roster. “He’s a part of that conversation,” Roberts confirmed. “He’s earned that.” So, while Josue De Paula is back in Triple-A for now, expect to hear his name again when the big league club starts finalizing their roster for the October push. The kid definitely made his mark, and he’s nowhere near done.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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