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At just 19 years old, Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Josue De Paula is living proof that age is just a number.
De Paula slugged a go-ahead grand slam as part of a seven-run eighth inning for High-A Great Lakes that lifted them to a 10-5 victory over Dayton (Cincinnati Reds' High-A affiliate). After two walks and an error loaded the bases for De Paula, he demolished the 371-foot slam to deep right field with a 103 mph exit velocity.
De Paula also doubled and walked, giving him 10 walks, a .404 OBP and a .945 OPS in his first 10-game sample to begin the 2024-25 season.
His big night Wednesday followed a 1-for-17 slide over his previous five games, but he now has six homers in his first 62 High-A games dating back to last season.
Dodgers top prospect Josue De Paula cements scorching start to season with fireworks
De Paula is one of the younger players in the High-A Midwest League, but Dodgers officials routinely describe him (via MLB Pipeline) as "the most advanced young hitter their organization has had in years." He recognizes pitches well and makes hard contact to all fields, and he projects as a 30-homer power bat at the Major League level as he continues to develop his strength. He is already keeping good company in that regard, participating in offseason workouts with two of baseball's most powerful bats in Elly De La Cruz and Juan Soto.
The Dodgers' No. 3 prospect and the No. 37 prospect in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline, De Paula originally signed with Los Angeles as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2022. He slashed .268/.404/.405 with 10 home runs across two levels of the Dodgers' farm system last year, leading the system in on-base percentage and posting a 136 wRC+ as the second-youngest regular in the High-A Midwest League during the second half.
De Paula turns 20 in May, but he's already built like a big leaguer. As long as he continues to develop defensively, we could see him in Los Angeles as soon as next season.
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