Josue De Paula gave the Los Angeles Dodgers plenty to be excited about Sunday, recording his first major league hit in a memorable performance against the Miami Marlins.
The 21-year-old rookie started in just his third MLB game and delivered a three-run home run in the fourth inning off Marlins right-hander Eury Pérez.
De Paula turned on a 98 mph fastball and sent it 416 feet into the right-field stands for his first major league hit. He later added a double and finished 2-for-2 with three RBI and one run scored.
“I’ll never forget it. It was awesome,” De Paula said after the game.
The rookie’s home run came with an exit velocity of 108.2 mph and a 39-degree launch angle. His double later left the bat at 101.9 mph, giving the Dodgers another glimpse of the power that made him one of their top prospects.
De Paula spent most of the 2026 season with Double-A Tulsa before the Dodgers selected his contract. He hit .303 with a .401 on-base percentage and .547 slugging percentage in 124 games, finishing with 27 home runs, 104 RBI, 37 doubles and 31 stolen bases.
The Dodgers turned to De Paula while Shohei Ohtani deals with knee and biceps inflammation. The opportunity came quickly for the young outfielder, who skipped Triple-A entirely on his way to the majors.
Despite De Paula’s big day, Los Angeles couldn’t finish the job. The Dodgers suffered a 6-4 loss after Miami rallied late, dropping their record to 90-59.
Isabella Frias-Imagn Images
Still, De Paula’s performance gave the Dodgers another reason to feel good about their young outfielder. Through his first three games, he is 2-for-7 with a home run, three RBI and four walks.
The Dodgers remain in first place in the NL West and continue to move toward another postseason appearance.
With Ohtani expected to miss time, De Paula could have an opportunity to make an even bigger impact as Los Angeles heads into the final weeks of the regular season.
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