Dodgers Farm: Josue De Paula Emerging as One of Dodgers’ Brightest Prospects
Josue De Paula has burst onto the scene in the early stages of the 2025 minor league season, showing the progress that suggests stardom may not be far off. The 19-year-old outfielder has quickly caught the attention of scouts and fans alike with a powerful start at High-A Great Lakes, where he’s already launched four home runs and posted an impressive .904 OPS.
Ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the Dodgers’ loaded farm system and No. 37 overall according to MLB Pipeline, De Paula is beginning to tap into the potential that scouts have long seen in his 6-foot-3 frame. Last season, he slashed .268/.404/.451 across two levels, showing strong plate discipline and emerging power. But the uptick in his early-season production this year has some thinking that a fast track to the big leagues could be in play.
If De Paula continues at this pace, the Dodgers could have no choice but to push him aggressively through the system, with a potential MLB debut on the horizon in the next few seasons. The organization has been hoping for this development since signing him during the 2021-22 international period, a class that saw Los Angeles work with a reduced bonus pool of $4.64 million due to previous big-league free agent expenditures.
Born in New York but raised in the Dominican Republic, De Paula’s path to professional baseball has been anything but traditional. A second cousin of former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury, De Paula had his early high school career disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the shutdown halted play, he appeared in just one game for Benjamin Cardozo High School in Queens.
Despite the unusual journey, De Paula has developed rapidly, blending a disciplined approach at the plate with emerging power. As he continues to fill out physically and refine his swing, the Dodgers may soon find themselves with yet another homegrown star in the making.
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