Los Angeles Dodgers top prospect Josue De Paula was unexpectedly called up from Double-A Tulsa to make his Major League Baseball debut against the Miami Marlins, stepping in as the designated hitter to replace Shohei Ohtani after the superstar was placed on the injured list with right biceps inflammation.
The Los Angeles Dodgers made a sweeping roster adjustment when two-way star Shohei Ohtani was officially placed on the 15-day injured list with right biceps inflammation, backdated to Tuesday. Rather than reaching for an experienced bat from Triple-A, the organization reached deep into its minor league ranks. The club recalled 21-year-old outfielder Josue De Paula in advance of their series opener on the road against the Miami Marlins. De Paula immediately slotted into the starting lineup at loanDepot Park as the designated hitter.
For De Paula, the promotion brought genuine disbelief. After finishing a game with Double-A Tulsa, affiliate manager Eric Wedge delivered the news of the promotion. Thinking he might be heading to Triple-A, the young prospect quickly discovered his destination was much further up the ladder.
Literally, I was like, ‘What? Going up where?’ He’s like, ‘You’re going with the big dogs.’ Josue De Paula, New York Post
A Rare Leap Over Triple-A Under Andrew Friedman
The decision to bypass Triple-A entirely marks a significant milestone for the franchise. According to official club records reported by the official MLB.com report cited by regional coverage, this is the first time baseball operations president Andrew Friedman has promoted a position player straight from Double-A to the major leagues since taking charge in October 2014. Since joining the organization as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2021 for just under $400,000, De Paula has steadily climbed through the system, culminating in a stellar campaign at Double-A Tulsa.
During his time with Tulsa, De Paula appeared in 124 games, compiling a .303 batting average, 27 home runs, and 104 RBIs. His performance anchored the Drillers into the Texas League playoffs as the first-half winner of the North Division, while his .948 OPS ranked second in the league. Scouts have noted his exceptional bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline, with the outlet reported that talent evaluators previously rated him among the most outstanding talents in the minor leagues.
Navigating Trade Deadlines and Roster Continuity
De Paula’s journey to the majors almost took a very different turn earlier in the summer. When the Dodgers engineered a major acquisition to land left-hander Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers ahead of the August 3 trade deadline, trade talks heavily centered on the organization’s elite prospects. While outfielder Zyhir Hope was ultimately included in the package sent to Detroit alongside pitchers Brady Smith and River Ryan, the front office successfully kept De Paula out of the deal. Retaining him proved pivotal for the stretch run as injuries mounted.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained that the decision to finally shut down Ohtani came after careful consultation with medical staff. Ohtani had missed nearly a week of action due to lingering discomfort in his right biceps and left knee, with the biceps issue proving most problematic. With no absolute certainty regarding when the four-time league MVP would return to full health, the team opted to place him on the injured list. Ohtani will be ineligible to return until September 23.
Stepping into the Big Leagues
Thrust directly into the starting lineup against Miami, De Paula finished his major league debut with three at-bats, no hits, and one walk while batting seventh. Looking ahead, the rookie is expected to receive regular looks in the designated hitter role during the team’s series against the Marlins, offering the organization an extended look at its top hitting prospect under competitive major league pressure.
Josue De Paula told the New York Post that he had always kept the possibility in the back of his mind, though he was not really expecting it to happen when it did because there were only four games left in the season, leading him to think they would play four more days, go through the playoffs, and then head home.
