Dodgers demote Josue De Paula with a Dalton Rushing catch (but battle isn't over)

When the Los Angeles Dodgers called up Josue De Paula just a few weeks ago, there weren’t really any major expectations for him to carry the offense or make a huge contribution this season. He was here to get his cup of coffee and gain some invaluable MLB experience. But in his short time with the club, De Paula has made such a massive impression that he has already forced a potential postseason roster battle that could end up with him on top. 

As reported by Katie Woo of The Athletic, De Paula has become an unexpected yet good problem for the Dodgers as they are set to welcome back a number of players from the IL. The team activated superstar Shohei Ohtani after he had been dealing with a handful of nagging injuries. 

The Dodgers will also look to activate catcher Dalton Rushing from the IL before the end of the regular season. While he will not be able to return behind the plate this year, the team could potentially use his bat off of the bench. This could lead to a log jam on the bench and a position battle between Rushing and De Paula ... down the line. To begin the proceedings, De Paula will go down on Wednesday in favor of Ohtani, while Rushing till ideally get some at-bats at the MLB level before the season ends.

This doesn't mean De Paula can be counted out of the postseason roster mix, though. That debate hasn't finished yet (or even begun until Rushing can get some reps).

While Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admitted earlier in the week that it could lead to a “good debate” as the team determines which of the two players to carry on the postseason roster, he may have already shown his hand.   

“To be quite frank, it’s going to be tougher for Dalton, given the time that he’s missed, and to kind of think that you have three games to get back in playoff form, which is tough to do,” Roberts said of Rushing.  

“It’s not a knock on him. He’s been great for us. But it’s still tough, given that also you’re talking about the consistency of at-bats recently from Josue. We have to have those conversations and make a decision.” 

With just a handful of games remaining in the regular season, Rushing likely won’t get many at-bats to get back into a rhythm before the playoffs. Whether or not that will have the greatest impact on Roberts’ final decision will be interesting to watch out for. It will be hard to overlook how hot De Paula is at the plate right now though, even as he heads to the minors.  

Josue De Paula has already become a force in the Dodgers’ lineup  

Through his first 31 at-bats with the Dodgers, De Paula has already collected 10 hits and driven in seven runs. With a .323/.500/.581 slash line, he has shown that he’s capable of handling MLB pitching. Well, at least in the short term. We have seen rookies come up to the majors and wreak havoc at the plate before teams have time to collect enough tape on them and pitchers can make the adjustment.  

Then again, as the Dodgers' No. 1 prospect, De Paula has raked at every level in the minor leagues. With a career .857 OPS in five minor league seasons, he has the tools to make the adjustments of his own. He already has an excellent grasp on the strike zone and plate discipline that rivals seasoned MLB veterans. De Paula has drawn 11 walks in 11 games in his young career in the bigs. 

The postseason is obviously a different beast than a prospect’s first dozen MLB games. At-bats are more scrutinized and the pressure would be unlike anything De Paula has experienced in his pro career. He also lacks the experience of coming off the bench cold and pinch hitting, especially in high-leverage situations. But if anyone could overcome those obstacles, it is De Paula.  

Despite Roberts already seeming to have a preference, De Paula isn’t a lock for the playoff roster quite yet. But with the ability to change the game with one swing, he could become one of the Dodgers’ most dangerous weapons off the bench in October.      

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