The Los Angeles Dodgers are watching one of their impossibly young prospects defy expectations right now.
As the Dodgers — owners of Major League Baseball’s best record entering Saturday — set their sights on an imminent World Series run, they are also keeping an eye on the future.
Sustained excellence is the goal of any franchise, and Los Angeles is hoping to extend its current greatness by striking gold on the development of one or more of its prospects.
Anyone familiar with the Dodgers' talent pool has heard of their No. 1 prospect Dalton Rushing, who at 23 years old is on the precipice of Major League Baseball (if not in Los Angeles, surely somewhere else).
However, just behind Rushing at No. 2 in the Dodgers rankings is 19-year-old Josue De Paula, whose development has taken place at hyperspeed.
In an article published on Saturday entitled, “Roman Anthony and MLB's 25 Best Prospects 20 Years Old or Younger in 2024”, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter ranked De Paula at No. 19 and discussed his rare talent.
“Signed for just $397,500 in 2022, De Paula has quickly emerged as one of the most tantalizing offensive prospects in the lower levels of the minors,” Reuter said. “He just turned 19 years old in May, and is more than holding his own against older competition with a .255/.385/.405 line that includes 14 doubles, 10 home runs, 58 RBI and 18 steals in 92 games between Single-A and High-A.”
Considering the loaded, championship-level roster that Los Angeles currently fields, it will be hard for any prospect — even the Dodgers’ top talents — to break through and earn a spot on the big league club.
Could De Paula become the exception in the next 12 to 24 months?
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