Dodgers Keep Josue De Paula on NLCS Roster Against Brewers

The Los Angeles Dodgers kept top prospect Josue De Paula on their 26-man roster for the 2026 National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, giving the 21-year-old outfielder another postseason opportunity after his MLB debut in September.

According to Sports Illustrated, De Paula, ranked No. 4 overall by MLB Pipeline for 2026, appeared twice as a pinch hitter during the Dodgers' NL Division Series victory over the Atlanta Braves. The Dodgers won that series 3-1.

De Paula reached the majors after Shohei Ohtani's injury opened a roster opportunity, according to Dodgers Way. In 11 games after his September call-up, he recorded a .323/.500/.581 slash line, a 1.081 OPS, one home run, 11 walks and seven RBI in 31 at-bats.

The rookie's plate discipline also became a key reason the Dodgers valued his postseason role. Sports Illustrated reported that De Paula drew 11 walks in his first 11 major league games, giving Los Angeles a potential late-game option to reach base.

New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto praised De Paula after seeing the rookie imitate his signature batting routine during a major league appearance. Soto told The Athletic that he had received many messages about the moment.

"A lot of people sent me this," said Juan Soto, New York Mets outfielder.

Soto said he appreciated De Paula's emotion and confidence after seeing the rookie's batting routine, which drew comparisons to Soto's own approach at the plate.

"He's really passionate and there is a lot of emotion," said Juan Soto, New York Mets outfielder.

Soto also evaluated De Paula's overall ability as the Dodgers prepared for October baseball.

"He's special. He has really good abilities. He's always been a grinder.

He has always understood the strike zone with a great swing. It's really cool to see what he's capable of," said Juan Soto, New York Mets outfielder.

The two players have a previous connection through baseball training in the Dominican Republic and share agent Scott Boras, according to The New York Times. Soto said their conversations focused more on adapting to a team environment than technical instruction.

"My talks with him were more about how he could go about things with his team because he already has the ability," said Juan Soto, New York Mets outfielder.

Soto added that De Paula already showed confidence in his hitting and defensive preparation.

"I don't have to talk too much about hitting or playing the outfield or anything like that with him. He knew what he was doing. And he was capable of doing whatever you'd have in mind," said Juan Soto, New York Mets outfielder.

De Paula addressed the comparisons between his routine and Soto's shuffle, saying the movement was not a deliberate imitation.

"I swear I wasn't, like, trying to do the whole thing," said Josue De Paula, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder.

De Paula explained that the movement happened naturally during his at-bat and that he did not mind the comparison to one of baseball's prominent hitters.

"It was just like I got into my legs and I was shaking my head, but I didn't go with the whole lean and stuff like that. But, I mean, people say it looks like him, so, hey, I'm not mad. That's not a bad player to look like," said Josue De Paula, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder.

The Dodgers could use De Paula as a bench bat during the NLCS, with Sports Illustrated noting that his left-handed swing could be useful against Milwaukee's right-handed bullpen options. His defensive limitations may also affect his playing time in the outfield.

De Paula's immediate role could depend on Shohei Ohtani's availability as the designated hitter. Sports Illustrated reported that Ohtani struggled during the NLDS, going 2-for-13 without an extra-base hit, after dealing with injuries during the regular season.