Dodgers Considered Josue De Paula for Postseason
Manager Dave Roberts is evaluating the 21-year-old rookie for a potential spot on the upcoming playoff roster.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Baseball
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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has placed rookie Josue De Paula under consideration for the team's postseason roster. The decision follows the injury-related absence of star Shohei Ohtani.
Why it matters
The Dodgers are seeking roster depth for a potential championship run after Shohei Ohtani was sidelined. De Paula was promoted directly from Double-A to provide an immediate offensive spark.
Josue De Paula posted a .303/.401/.547 slash line with 27 home runs in Double-A before his call-up. In his brief MLB stint, he has recorded a 92.6 mph average exit velocity and an OPS of .789.
The players
Dave Roberts
He is the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers who is overseeing the team's roster adjustments for the final stretch of the season.
Josue De Paula
He is a 21-year-old prospect who was called up directly from Double-A to provide offensive production for the Dodgers.
Shohei Ohtani
He is a star player for the Los Angeles Dodgers who was recently placed on the injured list after being shut down from pitching.
The details
De Paula was elevated to the majors without any experience at the Triple-A level after his high-performing season in the minor leagues. He notched his first MLB home run on September 13 and has drawn seven walks in his seven games played.
Timeline
Shohei Ohtani was shut down from pitching in early July.
Josue De Paula hit his first MLB home run on September 13, 2026.
Manager Dave Roberts is evaluating De Paula throughout September 2026.
MLB postseason games are scheduled to begin in October 2026.
The Big Picture
The evaluation of De Paula coincides with the rigid constraints of the MLB postseason roster deadline. This process follows the established league precedent that requires clubs to solidify their final playoff configurations by the end of the regular season.
De Paula provides the team with seven walks and four RBIs over his limited sample size, influencing his chances for a playoff spot. His inclusion would directly impact the Dodgers' bench depth and tactical options for high-leverage postseason situations.
The takeaway
The promotion of a prospect directly from Double-A reflects the team's urgency to fill a critical production void. Fans should watch the final September games closely to see if the rookie secures a spot on the playoff bench.
What happens next
The Los Angeles Dodgers will finalize their postseason roster at the end of September 2026, ahead of the start of the MLB postseason games in October 2026.
Further reading
For more on roster shifts, visit the Los Angeles Baseball section.
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Should a team favor unproven young players over veterans for critical postseason roster spots?
