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, promoting talented Dominican prospect Josué de Paula from the Double-A level. The 21-year-old outfielder joins the Major League roster to fill the vacancy left by superstar Shohei Ohtani, who has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to persistent discomfort in his right arm.
This opportunity marks a milestone in De Paula’s rising career, as he will join the team this Friday. The Dominican player will be available during the seven-game series that the Los Angeles organization will play in Miami and Cincinnati, looking to make the most of the at-bats that have opened up in the starting lineup.
An elite prospect with impact numbers
De Paula’s arrival at the highest level of baseball is no coincidence. During his time in Double-A this season, the outfielder exhibited high-caliber offensive performance in 124 games:
- .303 batting average
- .401 on-base percentage (OBP)
- .547 slugging percentage
- 27 home runs hit
- 31 stolen bases
His remarkable evolution has led the Dodgers to jealously protect him, even going so far as to dismiss trade proposals during the summer market that involved renowned figures such as pitcher Tarik Skubal. Signed in 2022 for a figure of less than $400,000, the Dominican has quickly established himself as the top jewel of the Californian franchise’s farm system.
Shohei Ohtani’s situation
Ohtani’s placement on the injured list, applied retroactively to last Monday, has the Los Angeles fanbase on alert. With a tentative return date set for September 23, the Japanese star would have a limited window of five games before entering the postseason phase.
If tomorrow were a postseason game, he would be in the lineup.
Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager
Manager Dave Roberts is confident that this recovery period will allow Ohtani to return in full condition. Meanwhile, the eyes of the organization and the followers of Alofoke Deportes will be on Josué de Paula, who faces the challenge of proving that his talent is capable of shining on the most demanding stage of professional baseball.
