Los Angeles Dodgers minor league outfielder Josue De Paula is the consensus top prospect in the franchise’s farm system.
De Paula is 20 years old, turning 21 at the beginning of the season in May. He is a lefty who bats and throws from the same side.
He measures in at six feet, three inches, weighing in at 185, according to MLB Pipeline’s database.
He was born in Brooklyn, though he moved to the Dominican Republic in high school and signed with the Dodgers for $397,500 in 2022.
The outfielder has familial ties to former NBA guards Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair, being the second cousin to both basketball players.
Where does Josue De Paula rank as a prospect?
MLB Pipeline has him at No. 15 overall, atop the Dodgers’ prospect list. ESPN has De Paula ranked as the top Dodgers prospect, sitting at No. 21.
FanGraphs has De Paula as the Dodgers’ top prospect.
The Athletic’s Keith Law has DePaula ranked at No. 20 overall and the Dodgers’ No. 2 prospect.
Finally, in Baseball America’s preseason rankings, DePaula is 24th overall and the No. 2 prospect on the Dodgers as well.
How did Josue De Paula do in 2025?
De Paula split his time in High-A with Great Lakes and Double-A with the Tulsa Driller. He played 98 games for Great Lakes, hitting .263/.406/.421 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs, along with 31 stolen bases.
In Double-A, he only played four games, failing to get a hit in 18 at-bats and netting just one walk.
2026 should see De Paula tested with a season-long stint with Tusla, which will be a big test of his caliber as a prospect.
If he managed to show power and hit a level, he could be fast-tracked to Triple-A by the end of the year.
Josue De Paula Scouting Report
Per MLB Pipeline and FanGraphs, De Paula projects to break into the majors in 2027, which makes sense considering that he still has to prove himself in Double-A and Triple-A.
Luckily for De Paula and the Dodgers, both parties can afford to wait and see how he develops since the Dodgers have an experienced, productive outfield for the time being.
However, with Teoscar Hernandez hitting free agency after 2026, De Paula could have a path to assured playing time if he has a great 2026 or, worst-case scenario, he gets a chance in the outfield platoon in 2027.
Here is what Dodger Nation’s Doug McKain has to say about De Paula as a player and his project over the next couple of years.
“De Paula’s upside at the plate is what has the Dodgers so high on his potential. He has advanced strike zone awareness, doesn’t chase, hits the ball hard, and seems to always swing at the right pitches,” McKain said.
“The only question about De Paula at this point is if the hard contact that he consistently gets will lead to more power. He hit 12 home runs in 445 plate appearances in High-A and Double-A last season.
“If De Paula can figure out how to get the ball to fly off his bat and into the bleachers more often, then watch out, he could end up as the top prospect in baseball.”
Josue De Paula Grades
MLB Pipeline:
- Hitting – 60
- Power – 60
- Base-running – 40
- Arm strength- 50
- Fielding – 50
Overall: 60 out of 80
FanGraphs
- Hitting – 45
- Power – 65
- Speed – 40
- Fielding – 40
Overall: 55 out of 80
For the current Dodgers prospect rankings, click here.
