Los Angeles Dodgers special assistant Jason Heyward, who knows a thing or two about the outfield, is working closely with Josue De Paula to help the top prospect work on his defense.
De Paula is the top prospect in the Dodgers organization and one of the best in baseball because of his swing, the best in the system since Corey Seager.
In 2027, De Paula will need to be added to the 40-man roster, and he should get a call-up at some point over the next calendar year, making his development one to watch.
As a hitter, he is arguably ready to be on the Dodgers now, even though he has only played in Double-A and not Triple-A yet.
Heyward, who joined the Dodgers organization this year, is a former Dodger who knows what it takes to succeed in the outfield, given his multi-All-Star career.
Naturally, with a special talent in De Paula, the Dodgers have sent Heyward to work with their top guy, and the veteran has come away impressed.
“He’s done a lot to earn the attention he’s getting now,” Heyward told The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya. “It’s also one of those things where you see guys sometimes not realize that, ‘Hey, you’re very close. You’re closer than you think to that next level and have an opportunity to start your career.’”
“It’s definitely something that’s fun to watch. It’s much easier said than done; what he’s able to do in the box, maintain his tempo.
“He goes at the pace he would like to go at, and that allows him to make good decisions, whether it’s chasing very rarely and on pitches that are in the zone, getting the kind of swing off that he wants to get off. That’s the name of the game.”
How Jayson Heyward is helping Josue De Paula
Heyward is a gold glover who was known for his well-rounded game, and De Paula could use a lot of help with his defense.
Naturally, the Dodgers coach hopes to help him approach defense and clean up some of the frustrating mistakes that have stained De Paula’s otherwise great offensive season.
“I think it’s just more about making him aware of what it looks like, what it feels like,” Heyward said. “Give him something else to go off of. Because it’s one thing for anyone to hear, ‘Hey, this should look like this’ or ‘This is what’s been asked of you.’
“I think it’s more of what we can do to show him and allow him to feel like this is what this rep looks like. … This is how this is going to feel. This is how your routine is going to feel.
“Being very real about it, there are so many days we can show up for work, and we’re like, ‘All right, man, I’m gonna work on this thing.’ Then you come in tomorrow, you’re like, ‘That was a waste of f—ing time,’ you know? It’s definitely trial and error. But it’s nice that we have another opportunity to come back the next day, the next thing.”
De Paula has serious potential even on defense given his athletic gifts, and if there is anyone who can help him reach his potential, it will be someone like Heyward.
