Josue De Paula gets two MLB mentors as Dodgers look for drastic improvements

The Los Angeles Dodgers need to get younger and more athletic in 2027, and Josue De Paula can help with that. The 21-year-old De Paula showed why he's LA's No. 1 prospect toward the end of the 2026 regular season, tallying a 1.081 OPS in his first 31 MLB at-bats to go along with a moonshot home run and seven RBI.

De Paula skipped right over Triple-A upon being promoted to the bigs on September 11, which remains both an impressive feat and somewhat of a problem for De Paula's development. Without enough reps in the minors, De Paula's defense wasn't given time to mature, and it's not MLB-ready.

This wouldn't be a huge issue if De Paula were playing for a less relevant, less competitive MLB team than the Dodgers. But on LA's title-or-bust squad, less-than-competent defense stands out like a sore thumb. De Paula and his camp know this, which explains why De Paula has reportedly taken on two mentors (both former MLB players) this offseason to improve his outfield skills.

Dodgers phenom Josue De Paula will work with Alex Ochoa and Jackie Bradley Jr. this offseason

Ochoa has plenty of experience as an MLB outfielder (not to mention a World Series ring with the Angels in 2002). He runs Scott Boras' Miami training facility, which was established to train Boras' clients (De Paula being one of them). Bradley Jr. was a Gold Glove center fielder in 2018 and an ALCS MVP with the Boston Red Sox on the way to a World Series title.

De Paula is in good hands. It's also music to Dodgers fans' ears that he's building these training relationships during an offseason that could run longer than usual. Regardless of how the labor negotiations go, De Paula can keep developing his skills with Bradley Jr. and Ochoa while preparing for a solidified role with the Dodgers, potentially as early as next season.

Josue De Paula improving his defense could lead to him taking over left field soon for Dodgers

While Teoscar Hernández is under contract for one more season with LA, it's clear that the Dodgers are preparing for his departure (potentially via trade), with De Paula operating as the heir apparent in left field. The sooner De Paula improves his glove, the sooner LA can commit fully to the passing of the torch. An outfield of De Paula, Andy Pages, and Kyle Tucker moving forward has to be what the Dodgers are envisioning, with all due respect to Hernández.

De Paula's MLB debut -- and early success at the plate -- was one of the shiniest silver linings from an ultimately disappointing three-peat bid for the Dodgers. Whether or not he can take a leap defensively in 2027 isn't just a matter of fan excitement, though. It could legitimately impact LA's chances to return to the World Series.

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