Two games. Zero hits. No problem. On September 13, 2026, in the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins, Josue De Paula answered every question about his readiness with one swing — a home run. His first hit in the major leagues was a home run, and it was also the first run of the game for Los Angeles.
Zero Hits, Zero Doubts
De Paula had debuted on September 11 going 0-for-3 with a walk in the Dodgers‘ 6-2 win. In his third big-league game, facing a Marlins pitcher identified as Pérez, he put one over the fence in the fourth inning with the score tied at 0-0. MLB’s official account said it best: «Josue De Paula’s first Major League hit is a home run!»
Why Skipping Triple-A Is Such a Big Deal
The Dodgers called De Paula up on September 10 from Double-A Tulsa, forced into action by injuries to Shohei Ohtani (biceps), Freddie Freeman (knee), and Andy Pages (wrist). He became the first position player the organization sent directly from Double-A under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, who has held that role since October 2014. To find the last time the Dodgers did this, you have to go back 45 years — to Steve Sax in 1981.
That context turns what looked like an emergency call-up into something much larger.
What He Did to Earn the Call
In 124 games with Tulsa in 2026, De Paula hit .303/.401/.547 with 27 home runs, 104 RBI, and 31 stolen bases. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the #6 overall prospect in baseball and the top prospect in the Dodgers system, describing him as the most advanced young hitter Los Angeles has had since Corey Seager. In the minors he posted exit velocities in the 90th percentile, averaging 104 mph with a max of 111 mph, and a swing-and-miss rate of just 15%.
21 Years Old, Brooklyn-Born, and Already Unforgettable
Born on May 24, 2005, in Brooklyn, New York, De Paula signed with the Dodgers in 2022 as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic for $397,500. He was 21 years and 110 days old when he debuted on September 11 — the youngest Dodger since Alex Verdugo on September 2, 2017.
The home run came with Los Angeles sitting 1.5 games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in the National League, with 15 games left in the regular season and an 11-game cushion over San Diego in the West. With Ohtani sidelined, someone needed to step up. De Paula stepped up in the most memorable way possible.
