The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a move to bring up top prospect Josue De Paula after Shohei Ohtani was placed on the injured list due to ongoing knee issues. Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 due to persistent soreness in his left knee and threw a shortened bullpen session on August 28 as part of his attempted return. The two-way star returned Monday after missing four straight games and went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. His recent struggles at the plate have been significant, with only seven hits and 22 strikeouts over his last 54 at-bats. Reuters reported that Ohtani is still hitting .277 with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs in 130 games this season. He is 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings as a pitcher. Ohtani said Monday that he most likely will not pitch again this season and will focus on hitting.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Ohtani’s return is expected to be delayed by at least two weeks, with a possible return date of September 23, according to ESPN. Roberts emphasized that while Ohtani could be ready for a postseason game tomorrow, he needs time to fully recover, according to a report from Yahoo Sports. The team’s decision to hold off on placing Ohtani on the injured list immediately was based on a careful review of his condition and staff input. Because Ohtani is classified as a two-way player he must spend at least 15 days on the injured list. A September 23 return would leave him only five regular-season games before the playoffs. Roberts said the Dodgers had spoken with Ohtani as well as doctors and training staff before making the move.
De Paula, a 21-year-old who was born in Brooklyn and moved to the Dominican Republic as a teenager, is the Dodgers' top prospect and has been ranked as the sixth-best in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline. He was signed by the Dodgers for less than $400,000 in 2022 and quickly advanced through the minor league system. MLB Pipeline lists his signing bonus at $397,500. De Paula skipped Triple-A to join the Dodgers straight from Class AA Tulsa, a rare move for a prospect in the Andrew Friedman era. He is expected to take over most of Ohtani’s playing time during the next 11 games, including a seven-game trip through Miami and Cincinnati.
In 124 games for Tulsa this season De Paula hit .303 with a .401 on-base percentage and a .547 slugging percentage. He also had 27 home runs, 104 RBI and 31 stolen bases. MLB Pipeline considers him the most advanced young hitter developed by the Dodgers since Corey Seager. MLB.com reported that De Paula is scheduled to make his major league debut Friday in Miami and will get time at designated hitter and in the corner outfield.
Roberts said that De Paula would be ready to play if the team needed him in a high-stakes game right now. Despite Ohtani’s injury and recent struggles, the Dodgers have maintained their strong season performance with a 14-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds. The team currently holds a four-game lead over Atlanta and is aiming to secure the No. 2 seed in the National League. With the Dodgers holding the second-best record in the National League at 89-57, they are in a strong position for a first-round bye in the playoffs. The victory over Cincinnati extended the Dodgers' winning streak to seven games. Their magic number to clinch the NL West fell to six.
Dodgers All-Star Mookie Betts praised De Paula, calling him a good kid and saying he was excited to see him. The team’s decision to call up De Paula reflects their confidence in his ability to step into a major role. The Dodgers refused to include De Paula in trade talks for Tarik Skubal this summer, according to ESPN. Los Angeles later acquired Skubal from Detroit by sending Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith to the Tigers. The trade was completed in early August and gave Los Angeles the two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner without giving up De Paula.
The organization has shown a strong commitment to building around De Paula and other young players in the system. De Paula’s arrival comes at a crucial time for the Dodgers, who are trying to maintain their playoff position while managing Ohtani's recovery. With his strong minor league performance and potential, De Paula is expected to be a key contributor in the near future. MLB.com reported that a strong September could even give De Paula a chance to earn a postseason roster role. Roberts said the team will first use this stretch to give him major league at-bats and see how he responds.
The team’s focus now is on balancing Ohtani’s recovery with continued success on the field.