Josue De Paula did not take long to make a September roster spot feel like his own. The 21-year-old Dodgers outfielder arrived on September 11 and gave Los Angeles a jolt down the stretch, carrying a .323/.500/.581 line through 11 regular-season games while stepping into a clubhouse built around a reigning two-time championship club.
| Regular-season games | Batting average | On-base percentage | Slugging percentage | Runs | RBIs | Walks | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | .323 | .500 | .581 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 5 |
He also delivered a big home run in Miami, and his command of the strike zone stood out as much as the extra-base damage: more than twice as many walks as strikeouts. That is a loud first impression for a player joining a lineup that already has Shohei Ohtani at its center.
A Brooklyn baseball path
De Paula grew up in Coney Island, Brooklyn, in a family better known for point guards than outfielders. His third cousin is Stephon Marbury, the former NBA star, while Sebastian Telfair is another basketball name on De Paula’s mother’s side.
Baseball came through De Paula’s father, Josue Sr., a Dominican who loved the game. While basketball might have been the expected family route, De Paula showed an early appetite for baseball and pursued it with uncommon focus.
At about 15, he left Brooklyn to live with his father’s relatives in the Dominican Republic, allowing him to play year-round. Marbury recalled that pro-ball talk began early because De Paula had already drawn attention as a young player.
The Dodgers signed De Paula as an international free agent in 2022. He kept climbing through the organization, dominating pitchers at successive levels and reaching the top tier of MLB Pipeline prospect rankings before his September callup.
Marbury’s message from China
Marbury knows the weight that can come with arriving on a major stage at a young age. He was 19 when he went fourth overall in the NBA Draft, carrying the expectations attached to one of New York City’s most celebrated young guards.
Now 49 and spending most of his time in China, where his basketball career made him a major figure, Marbury has stayed close to De Paula’s rise. He said the family is proud, and that his younger cousin has worked to make the moment count.
His advice has been simple: be first through the doors, leave last, and stay locked in on every responsibility. Marbury has liked what he has seen from De Paula at the plate, describing him as patient, composed in the batter’s box, receptive to coaching and prepared for the opportunity.
De Paula has felt that support. After seeing one of Marbury’s messages online urging him to put on a show now that he had reached the majors, the outfielder said it meant a great deal to have that kind of backing from across the world.
Postseason watch
Marbury will be up early in China to follow De Paula and the Dodgers through October. He remains a Yankees fan, but said he will wear Los Angeles gear for his cousin, even owning a cap that combines L.A. and N.Y.
The Dodgers’ NLDS Game 3 is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET and 3 p.m. PT, airing on FS1, FOX Deportes and FOX One. For De Paula, it is another chance to keep a remarkable first month in the majors moving forward.
