Dodgers Top Prospect Could Be the Next Yordan Alvarez, Says ESPN Insider
In addition to a star-studded MLB roster, the Los Angeles Dodgers have a young pool of talent in their farm system.
Six of the Dodgers’ prospects are ranked in MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects. Eight are ranked in ESPN’s top 100.
Right fielder Josue De Paula ranks third among all Dodgers prospects and 40th across MLB on MLB Pipeline. He’s No. 20 in MLB according to ESPN.
ESPN MLB insider Kiley McDaniel compared De Paula to three-time American League All-Star Yordan Alvarez. McDaniel added that an unnamed rival team also drew the comparison between the two outfielders.
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De Paula, who will turn 20 in May, signed with the Dodgers for $400,000 in the 2022 international signing class. He made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League and reached the High-A level in 2024.
Like Alvarez, who is a Cuban native, De Paula came from the international market. He was born in Brooklyn, New York but moved to the Dominican Republic before signing with the Dodgers.
The left-handed hitter recorded a career-high 10 home runs this season. Meanwhile, Alvarez has logged at least 31 homers across the last four seasons.
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Although De Paula’s home run frequency is less than that of the 2022 AL Silver Slugger, Alvarez’s home runs were also limited in his early career.
Alvarez did not break into the 20-homer mark until his third minor league season. In his second season, Alvarez hit 12 home runs in 90 games, mirroring De Paula’s 10 in 74 games in 2024.
De Paula led Class-A in on-base percentage (.404) last season. He was also the second-youngest regular in the High-A Midwest League in the second half of the season.
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De Paula’s MLB prospect profile predicts the 19-year-old to make his MLB debut in 2026. Despite currently lacking speed, defense, and a strong arm, as McDaniel points out, De Paula’s powerful bat will be impactful to the Dodgers’ offense.
”The downside of that comp is De Paula doesn’t offer much in terms of speed, defense, or arm,” McDaniel wrote. “The upside is that he isn’t just raw power projection; he’s also an above average hitter with plus pitch selection and current plus in-game power, though he hasn’t fully leaned into pulling and lifting the ball as much as he probably will in a few years.”
Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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Is working out with fellow Dominicans Juan Soto and Elly De La Cruz this winter, as some reported. Perhaps he is still growing and will get bigger and stronger and improve his launch angle. Maybe the Dodgers won’t trade him away as they did with Yordan Alvarez. Some say his defense is not very good and he will end up one day at 1B [Freeman’s last contract year is 2027]. Maybe we can watch him in Spring Training. In 2028 he will only be 23 years old [he does not turn 20 years old until May, 2025]. I think he is ranked in all of the Top 100 publications this month. Baseball Prospectus, Baseball America, The Athletic, ESPN, MLB Pipeline. Waiting for Fangraphs Top 100. Maybe they should not trade him like they did Yordan Alvarez. Same for Zyhir Hope.