MIAMI — Two days ago, Tulsa Drillers manager Eric Wedge called Josue De Paula into his office to give him the news – he was going up.
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But De Paula had to ask – “I’m going up … where?” The top prospect in the Dodgers’ system, De Paula had spent the entire season in Double-A, the Dodgers opting not to give him any time in Triple-A before calling him up to the majors to make his big-league debut on Friday.
“He said, ‘You’re going up with the big dogs,’” De Paula recalled with a broad smile as he sat in the visitors’ dugout at LoanDepot Park. “‘No way.’
“It was not something I was expecting. … I was in disbelief.”
De Paula felt differently during spring training with the Dodgers. In typical youthful optimism and ambition, he expected to be in the big leagues before the end of the season. When it hadn’t happened before this week, he figured his major league debut would be postponed until 2027.
“I was never 100 percent sure. I always had it in the back of my mind it could happen,” the 21-year-old said. “I never tried to think too much about it. … I wasn’t really thinking about it because we really only had about four days left before the season ends. So I was just thinking – four days, playoffs and then go home.”
But injuries to left-handed hitters have piled up for the Dodgers recently – most prominently Shohei Ohtani, who was officially placed on the injured list on Friday. With at-bats available at DH, the Dodgers reached down to Double-A for De Paula.
It is the first time during Andrew Friedman’s time running the Dodgers that he has promoted a position player from Double-A. The Dodgers did it with Emmet Sheehan in June 2023. The previous time a position player jumped from Double-A to the Dodgers was infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena in 2014. That did not go well.
De Paula comes with much greater hype and projections. Some comparisons even mention another Cuban signee of the Dodgers – Yordan Alvarez.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts offered another comp closer to home.
“It won’t be too much for him. His demeanor is very kind of calm,” Roberts said. “He’s got that, you know, Will Smith heartbeat. He’s got a lot of family friends that’ll be here tonight. He was very emotional, very excited about this opportunity, but I definitely don’t think the game will speed up on him.
“For me, I think he’s going to swing at strikes, take balls, put together good at-bats, and like I said, I just don’t think he’ll be overwhelmed.”
Former big-leaguer Jason Heyward joined the Dodgers’ front office in May and has spent a good deal of time with De Paula in Tulsa. His scouting report backs up Roberts’ expectations.
“He doesn’t let anything rush him,” Heyward said earlier this summer. “I feel like his tempo is his super power. Quality AB after quality AB.”
De Paula should get plenty of those ABs over the next two weeks. Roberts said he will start all three games in Miami at DH. De Paula’s goal is to show the Dodgers “just what I’m about.” Where that leads remains to be seen.
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“Nothing I feel I really have to change especially on the offensive side. Just do what I know how to do,” he said, acknowledging that he doesn’t think making a bid for a spot on the postseason roster is out of the question.
“Yeah. I mean, that’s always in the back of your head too. But I don’t want to get too ahead of myself now. I’m trying to focus on the now and having fun while I’m here.”
REHAB REPORT
Right-handed reliever Edwin Diaz’s first three rehab appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City have been less successful than the Dodgers had hoped. He has allowed a run while walking four and striking out three in 2⅔ innings.
After saying earlier this week that Diaz (neck) could join the Dodgers in Miami this weekend, Roberts said Friday that Diaz will make at least one more appearance with OKC on Sunday.
STILL OUT
First baseman Freddie Freeman was not in the Dodgers’ starting lineup for a second consecutive game on Friday. Freeman has been receiving treatment for an unspecified issue with his right knee.
“I was hoping he’d be in there today, but the training staff suggested he’s down another day,” said Roberts, who does plan to have Freeman in the lineup on Saturday either.
ROKI RETURN
Right-hander Roki Sasaki threw approximately 75 pitches to hitters before Wednesday’s game in Los Angeles and Roberts suggested he could return from the IL as soon as Sunday.
A Sunday start would come with just three days of rest following that 75-pitch workout. More likely, Sasaki will throw a bullpen session on Sunday and return at some point next week.
Justin Wrobleski is currently listed as the Dodgers’ starter on Sunday against the Marlins, but it could be Emmet Sheehan instead.
ALSO
In order to add De Paula to the 40-man roster, the Dodgers moved left-hander Eric Lauer to the 60-day IL, effectively ending his season.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Tyler Glasnow, 4-0, 3.12 ERA) at Marlins (RHP Tyler Phillips, 5-6, 3.51 ERA), Saturday, 1:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA, 570 AM
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