De Paula is 20 years old and will turn 21 at the start of the season in May. He is a lefty who hits and throws from the same side.
He measures 6-foot-1 and weighs 185, according to MLB Pipeline’s database.
He was born in Brooklyn, although he moved to the Dominican Republic in high school and signed with the Dodgers in 2022 for $397,500.
The outfielder has family ties to former NBA guards Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair, the second cousin of both basketball players.
Where does Josue De Paula rank as a potential candidate?
MLB Pipeline has him at No. 15 overall, atop the Dodgers’ prospect list. ESPN has De Paula ranked as the top Dodgers prospect, at No. 21.
FanGraphs has De Paula as the top prospect for the Dodgers.
The Athletic’s Keith Law has DePaula at No. 20 overall and the Dodgers at No. 2.
Finally, Baseball America’s preseason rankings rank DePaula at 24th overall and also second to the Dodgers.
How did Josue De Paula do in 2025?
De Paula split his time in High-A with Great Lakes and Double-A with the Tulsa Driller. He played 98 games for Great Lakes, hitting .263/.406/.421 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs, along with 31 stolen bases.
In Double-A, he played just four games, failing to record a hit in 18 at-bats and drawing just one walk.
In 2026, De Paula should be tested with a season-long spell at Tusla, which will be a big test of his caliber as a potential candidate.
If he manages to show strength and reach a level, he could be quickly moved up to Triple-A by the end of the year.
Josue De Paula Scouting Report
According to MLB Pipeline and FanGraphs, De Paula wants to break into the majors in 2027, which makes sense considering he still has to prove himself in Double-A and Triple-A.
Fortunately for De Paula and the Dodgers, both sides can afford to wait and see how he develops, as the Dodgers have an experienced, productive outfield for now.
However, with Teoscar Hernandez hitting free agency after 2026, De Paula could have a path to assured playing time if he has a great 2026 or, worst case, he gets a shot in the outfield pack in 2027.
Here’s what Dodger Nation’s Doug McKain has to say about De Paula as a player and his project for the coming years.
“De Paula’s upside at the plate is what has the Dodgers so highly rated. He has advanced strike zone awareness, doesn’t chase, hits the ball hard and always seems to swing at the right height,” McKain said.
“The only question about De Paula right now is whether the hard contact he’s consistently getting will lead to more power. He hit 12 home runs in 445 at-bats in High-A and Double-A last season.”
“If De Paula can figure out how to make the ball fly from his bat to the stands more often, then watch out, he could be the top prospect in baseball.”
Josue De Paula Figures
MLB Pipeline:
- Hit – 60
- Power – 60
- Basic running – 40
- Arm strength – 50
- Fieldwork – 50
Total: 60 out of 80
FanGraph
- Hit – 45
- Power – 65
- Speed – 40
- Fieldwork – 40
Total: 55 out of 80
For the current Dodgers prospect rankings, click here.
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