Josué de Paula Named to Dodgers Postseason Roster

Josué de Paula was planning to watch the postseason of the Dodgers He was at home with his family, having mostly played as a pinch hitter down the stretch of the season. However, a phone call from manager Dave Roberts changed his plans, informing him of his inclusion on the team for the Division Series.

“He told me, ‘Congratulations, you’re on the team,’” De ​​Paula said about the message he received three days before it became official. The 21-year-old left-handed outfielder admitted he couldn’t believe it and that the first thing he did was call his mom and dad.

Dave Roberts praises rookie composure and hitting

Before receiving the news, the young Dominican-American anticipated returning next year to continue contributing his strong hitting and youthful energy. After the call, the player admitted he was surprised and found the experience very exciting. Dave Roberts, for his part, praised the rookie’s on-field qualities. “What we saw was a good understanding of the strike zone, quality of contact, and good composure,” the manager stated, to which the player replied, “I think being calm comes naturally to me.”

An exceptional season and the leap to the Major Leagues

The recognition for the young talent continued on Sunday when he received the Branch Rickey Minor League Award at a pregame ceremony, an honor bestowed upon the organization’s top minor league player. The Brooklyn native, who moved to the Dominican Republic in high school and signed a $397,500 contract in 2022 as an international free agent, made his major league debut on September 11 and hit his first career home run two days later in Miami.

During the regular season, he played 11 games with the Dodgers, He posted a .323 batting average with one home run, seven RBIs, 11 walks, and five strikeouts. He was also named Double-A Player of the Year after hitting 27 home runs and driving in 104 runs in 124 games, becoming the first Dodgers position player to jump directly from Double-A to the Major Leagues since Erisbel Arruebarrena in 2014.