Josue De Paula will not be on the Dodgers’ active roster for the rest of the regular season.
Still, he might very well have a shot at making the postseason roster.
On Wednesday, the team optioned De Paula back to the minor leagues to clear a spot for Shohei Ohtani’s return from the injured list, which brings an end to what was a thrilling 11-game run for the 21-year-old in his major league debut.
Initially, this decision might seem surprising—especially considering De Paula’s impressive performance since his call-up from Double-A, where he was the organization’s top prospect.
However, the move was dictated by other roster dynamics, and crucially, it keeps De Paula eligible for the playoffs.
Here’s the situation: Along with Ohtani’s return, the Dodgers are also poised to activate catcher Dalton Rushing from the IL later this week.
This meant two players would need to be removed from the active roster. While Alex Freeland seemed like a likely choice, pinpointing another player was trickier.
Aside from possibly optioning outfielder Alex Call, there weren’t many viable alternatives to De Paula. De Paula and Rushing, filling in for Ohtani as designated hitter, would effectively be competing for the same spots—with limited at-bats available combined over the last few regular-season games.
There was, of course, the option of not activating Rushing, who has been recovering from an elbow injury and briefly returned before suffering a setback.
However, there’s a chance Rushing might be needed in October.
The Dodgers figured that giving Rushing a few at-bats off the bench now could be beneficial leading into the playoffs.
By optioning De Paula, they made sure he will be eligible for the National League Division Series that starts on October 3. When a player is optioned, they typically have to wait at least 10 days to return unless there are injuries. Meanwhile, De Paula could also get some at-bats with Triple-A Oklahoma City, which is competing in the Pacific Coast League championship series.
Since De Paula wasn’t on the 40-man roster as of September 1, the Dodgers will need to request permission from MLB for him to be postseason eligible. However, this should be a mere formality since he was part of the organization before that date.
The real question remains: when the Dodgers finalize their playoff roster, will it be De Paula or Rushing who takes a spot as a left-handed bat?
Rushing has more big league experience and was having a solid season before his injury, boasting a .249 batting average, 12 home runs, 36 RBIs, and an OPS of .798.
On the flip side, De Paula has certainly made a case for himself, hitting 10-for-31 in his first 11 games with five extra-base hits, one home run, seven RBIs, and a remarkable 11 walks against just five strikeouts. His on-base percentage stands at .500 over 42 plate appearances.
“It’s going to be an interesting discussion,” manager Dave Roberts noted. “Hitting off the bench is quite challenging, so we’re trying to determine who gives us the best chance.”
This is why the Dodgers are making roster adjustments now—they want to evaluate how Rushing performs in game situations before making their final decision.
Even at this stage, Roberts hinted that De Paula might have the upper hand.
“Honestly, it’s going to be tougher for Dalton given the time he’s missed,” Roberts acknowledged.
“And, we also have to think about Josue’s consistency with recent at-bats,” he noted, which is telling.
“So, we’ll need to have those discussions and make a decision,” Roberts concluded.
For now, De Paula is optioned out.
Yet, it would be surprising if he isn’t back in time for the playoffs.
