Los Angeles Dodgers top prospect Josue De Paula wasted no time making his presence felt after getting the call to the majors in September.
At just 21 years old, the young outfielder stepped onto one of baseball's biggest stages and immediately delivered. For a franchise accustomed to global superstars, De Paula's rapid rise has captured the attention of fans and analysts alike.
What Happened
Following his September call-up, De Paula exploded onto the scene with a remarkable .323/.500/.581 slash line across 11 regular-season games. He tallied seven runs, seven RBIs, and a memorable home run in Miami.
Most impressively, the disciplined rookie recorded more than double as many walks as strikeouts (11 to 5). Signing as an international free agent with the Dodgers in 2022, De Paula quickly climbed MLB Pipeline's prospect lists before proving he belongs in the big leagues alongside heavyweights like Shohei Ohtani.
Why It Matters
Stepping into the spotlight for the reigning two-champion Dodgers at such a young age is an immense mental and physical challenge. Fortunately, De Paula has a seasoned mentor in his corner who knows exactly what it takes to handle elite-level pressure.
Former NBA star Stephon Marbury—who was drafted fourth overall at just 19 years old—is De Paula's cousin. Marbury has been actively supporting and advising the young phenom, drawing from his own experiences as a teenage prodigy in New York City.
"He's trying to seize the moment. He's a great kid. He works hard," Marbury shared. "I told him, 'You gotta be first and last, you gotta be the first one in and the last one out.'"
What's Next
Despite growing up surrounded by basketball royalty in Brooklyn—including family ties to Sebastian Telfair—De Paula forged his own path in baseball. Moving to the Dominican Republic at age 15 to play year-round clearly paid off.
Now, with global support from Marbury—who plans to cheer him on from China despite his own lifelong allegiance to the New York Yankees—De Paula is locked in for the postseason. Armed with elite patience, a strong work ethic, and family backing, the young slugger is ready for whatever comes next.
