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7h ago

De Paula’s Go-Ahead Double Strengthens Dodgers’ October Case

Strong plate discipline and timely hitting push the 21-year-old into postseason roster talks despite defensive concerns and roster rules

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers wearing a blue hat and sleeveless hoodie, resting his arm on the railing of the dugout, with a baseball glove on his hand, Image 2 shows A young man in a white jersey and black durag leans on a railing, watching the game with an intense expression

Overview

  • Called up after Shohei Ohtani was placed on the injured list, De Paula delivered a go-ahead, two-out RBI double in his Dodger Stadium debut that helped spark an 8-2 win.
  • In eight major-league games he has five hits, five RBIs, eight walks, two strikeouts and a .238 average with an OPS near .924, showing unusual patience and contact for a 21-year-old.
  • Manager Dave Roberts and teammate Mookie Betts praised his professional at-bats and readiness, saying he is now “in the mix” for late-season bench roles.
  • De Paula openly acknowledges defensive weaknesses and vowed to improve, saying he will “shut a lot of people up” with his defense as he learns the outfield.
  • Roster mechanics complicate October plans because he was not on the 40-man roster as of Sept. 1, so adding him for the postseason would require an injury exemption or MLB approval, though the club is weighing him as a lefty bat off the bench.