Josué de Paula receives Major League call-up with the Dodgers following Shohei Ohtani’s injury
The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a strategic decision heading into the end of the regular season by promoting talented Dominican prospect Josué de Paula from Double-A. The 21-year-old outfielder joins the big league team with the mission of filling the void left by Shohei Ohtani, who has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to discomfort in his right arm.
This promotion represents a crucial moment in the young Dominican’s career, who will join the team this Friday to begin a seven-game road trip, facing the Miami Marlins and the Cincinnati Reds. Over the next 11 games, De Paula will have the opportunity to prove his worth on the diamond and claim important at-bats in the starting lineup.
An elite prospect with impressive numbers
De Paula’s arrival to the Major Leagues is no coincidence. The outfielder has completed an outstanding campaign in Double-A, where he has made it clear why he is considered one of the most prized jewels of the Californian organization. His statistics over 124 games speak for themselves:
- .303 batting average.
- .401 on-base percentage (OBP).
- .547 slugging percentage.
- 27 home runs and 31 stolen bases.
His projection is so high that the Dodgers’ management flatly refused to include him in high-profile negotiations during the summer, reaffirming his status as an untouchable piece for the franchise’s future. Since signing in 2022 for less than $400,000, the Dominican has had a meteoric rise through the team’s farm system.
If tomorrow were a postseason game, I would be in the lineup.
Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager
Shohei Ohtani’s Situation
Shohei Ohtani’s placement on the injured list is retroactive to last Monday, which would allow the Japanese star to return to the field on September 23, just in time to play the final games of the regular season before the postseason. Manager Dave Roberts has indicated that the rest is a necessary preventive measure to ensure the player recovers his best physical condition.
In addition to the arm discomfort, Ohtani has been dealing with issues in his left knee since July, which practically rules out his participation as a pitcher for the rest of the year. Now, all eyes in the Los Angeles camp will be on Josué de Paula, who will look to establish himself and contribute his explosive talent in this final stretch of the campaign.
