MLB Prospect Scouting Report: Josue De Paula

Scouting Grades (20-80 Scale)

Hitting

De Paula’s hitting mechanics have been tweaked since his first season in the Minor Leagues. The pronounced hitch in his load as he geared up to swing has been eliminated in favor of a shorter, more explosive bat path. He keeps his bat just below his left shoulder, which allows him to cover all parts of the plate and make contact with the baseball in a shorter amount of time, much like Kyle Schwarber. The mechanical adjustment has not compromised his production, as he has continued to improve statistically.

He begins each at-bat similar to Kyle Schwarber before unloading on the ball with swing mechanics and a power stroke akin to Yordan Alvarez. De Paula has power to all fields as well as the ability to hit for average. He put up a .303 batting average in 2026 with Tulsa, hitting 27 home runs with a .948 OPS in 124 games. While power is his most prominent tool, De Paula has shown solid plate discipline, posting a K/BB ratio of 87/81. Many young power-hitting prospects tend to favor their pull side, but De Paula has shown the ability to generate both power and contact to the opposite field as well. His ability to drive the ball to all fields gives pitchers fewer opportunities to exploit him, as he can still generate quality contact and power wherever the pitch is located in the zone.

Defense

There is not a ton of film available to truly assess his fielding abilities, but his .931 fielding percentage in left and .971 in right does not suggest a particularly strong defensive profile. In the limited film available, it is evident that De Paula has a strong arm in the outfield and, with improved footwork, could be a threat to runners trying to advance an extra base. Despite his current deficiencies, De Paula has the quickness, athleticism and baseball instincts to improve his routes and positioning with continued development. His routes to the ball and lack of awareness are the primary areas of concern. The play below illustrates the inefficiency in his current routes. A ball that could potentially be handled with better footwork forces him into a diving attempt. He makes the play, so the outcome is not negative, but more sure-footed movement and more efficient routes would allow him to track down balls with greater ease.

The Dodgers brought in Jason Heyward to work with him defensively, a clear indication of the organization’s belief in his potential and commitment to his development. His youth makes improving his defense important if De Paula is going to become a more complete player. He received a brief opportunity with the Dodgers this month after Shohei Ohtani went on the injured list and performed well enough to earn a spot on the Dodgers’ NLDS roster. He will need to develop into at least an average defender at an outfield position. This is currently the biggest concern in his profile and could limit his ability to be a mainstay on the Dodgers’ Major League roster. He is unlikely to become a Gold Glove defender, but an average defensive profile makes his offensive abilities all the more valuable. He would give the Dodgers versatility and would not be restricted solely to designated hitter.

Speed

De Paula is a capable baserunner who can provide value when given the opportunity. He swiped 31 bases at Double-A Tulsa while being caught 10 times for a 75.6% success rate. Given that his power and ability to hit for contact are his primary offensive strengths, De Paula does not need to be overly aggressive on the basepaths, but he has enough speed to swipe a bag when the situation calls for it. He runs similarly to James Wood, showing situational awareness without being overly aggressive. While he can steal bases over the course of the season, he is not a threat to run each time like Bobby Witt Jr or Chandler Simpson. His hit and power tools are prominent enough that speed does not need to be a huge component of his game.

Projection

De Paula possesses the offensive ability to develop into an impact middle-of-the-order hitter at the Major League level. His combination of power, bat-to-ball ability and plate discipline gives him multiple avenues to produce offensively, and his improved swing mechanics suggest there is still room for further development. The primary question is whether his defense will progress enough to allow his bat to play every day in the outfield.

I believe De Paula has the offensive upside to become a 30-plus home run threat who can hit for a strong average while providing value through his ability to get on base and drive the ball to all fields. Given his age and continued mechanical development, there is also room for the power to eventually reach a higher ceiling, although I believe it is too early to project that outcome with confidence. His defensive development will ultimately determine how much of that offensive value translates into everyday playing time. If he develops into an average corner outfielder, his offensive profile could make him a middle-of-the-order fixture. If the defense remains below average, he could be forced toward a DH/1B role, placing significantly more pressure on the bat to carry his overall value.

The offensive upside makes De Paula one of the more intriguing young hitters in the Dodgers’ system. His combination of youth, power, contact ability and improving swing mechanics gives him a legitimate opportunity to become an impact Major League hitter. The defensive question is significant, but it is also what makes his development particularly interesting to follow.