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When the Los Angeles Dodgers promoted 21-year-old Josue De Paula last September, they were seeking a spark to compensate for Shohei Ohtani's diminished production at designated hitter. Ohtani, hampered by injuries, was far less effective than in the first half, and the Dodgers hoped De Paula's hot bat at Double-A could ignite a sputtering lineup and fuel a postseason push.
De Paula earned the call-up after a standout Double-A campaign in which he slashed .303/.401/.547 with 27 home runs and 104 RBIs over 501 at-bats. In 11 major league games, he continued to rake, hitting .323 with a 1.087 OPS and going 10-for-31 at the plate.
However, during the postseason, when the Dodgers struggled to generate hits, De Paula saw limited action. The reason: his defensive shortcomings. The team was reluctant to expose him to high-leverage defensive situations in his first MLB innings as a fielder.
Since De Paula has no outfield experience beyond Double-A, the Dodgers would have liked to work with him on his defense this offseason. But that won't be possible due to an impending lockout. Once the collective bargaining agreement expires, all contact between teams and players is prohibited until a new deal is reached. Thus, De Paula cannot train with the team or use its facilities.
The Athletic's Katie Woo, speaking via a Reddit forum, elaborated on how the 2027 offseason could disrupt the Dodgers' plans for the 21-year-old. "I don't want to minimize how much work De Paula put in this year to improve as an outfielder," Woo wrote. "I also want to stress how much work he still has to do to be a truly viable major-league outfielder. In a normal offseason, I'd be more encouraged that he could take significant steps forward. But once the CBA expires, the Dodgers are prohibited from working with him, and he is prohibited from working out at any team facility. That's going to present a major roadblock, no matter how committed De Paula is to improve. The bat plays, we all know that. The big question mark is how much JDP can improve without the guidance of the team this offseason, however long that may be."
Even as the Dodgers aim to inject more youth into their roster and face uncertainty in left field, De Paula may not be the answer on Opening Day unless he can address his defensive issues independently.
Key Analysis
De Paula's offensive potential is undeniable, but his defensive development is crucial for him to become an everyday major leaguer. The lockout-induced lack of team supervision this offseason could significantly hinder his progress, making it less likely he'll be ready to handle left field regularly in 2027. The Dodgers must weigh his bat against his glove, and without the ability to work with him, they may need to explore other options for the position.