De Paula Faces Outfield Test in Dodgers' System

The dirt under the outfield grass is dry, the kind of surface that punishes hesitation. Josue De Paula stands in the gap, not with the casual ease of a veteran, but with the tense focus of a man who knows every misstep is being measured. He has arrived in Los Angeles with a bat that sings and a reputation that stings. For the first time under Andrew Friedman’s tenure, a position player was pulled directly from Double-A, a move that signals high confidence but also high scrutiny. The spotlight is not on his power, though that is formidable, but on the space behind his feet.

The numbers tell a blunt story. De Paula carries a 40-grade fielding tool, the lowest mark among any position player on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list. It is a statistical scar that has drawn sharp comments from fans and analysts alike. Yet, in the locker room and on the practice field, the atmosphere is different. There is no defensiveness, only a quiet, grinding determination. The Dodgers have even brought in Jason Heyward, a special assistant this spring, to work on the mechanics of catching a fly ball. It is a targeted intervention, aimed at turning a liability into a manageable flaw.

Turning Criticism Into Fuel

De Paula does not hide from the criticism; he metabolizes it. In an interview with The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, he spoke with a clarity that cut through the usual player non-sequiturs. He admitted the defense is his biggest area for improvement and acknowledged the volume of negative attention it has generated. "I’m that type: if I get hate on it, I’m going to focus on it more," he said. The promise is not immediate perfection, but a trajectory. He intends to shut up the detractors, a process he candidly admits will take time. It is a refreshing lack of bravado, grounded in the reality that fielding is a muscle that must be built, not just declared.

The current roster situation offers a temporary reprieve. With Shohei Ohtani on the injured list, De Paula has the luxury of playing the designated hitter, a role that strips away the defensive pressure. He has started just one outfield game as a big leaguer, a small sample size that barely scratches the surface of the challenge ahead. But this arrangement is not sustainable. Ohtani’s return will reclaim the DH spot, forcing De Paula into the outfield if he is to maintain a daily role in the majors. The clock is ticking on his reprieve, and the ball is in the air.

The Path to Regular Play

The Dodgers face a strategic choice as the season progresses. They could keep De Paula in the majors, accepting the defensive risk to capitalize on his offensive upside. Or, as Yahoo Sports and other analysts suggest, they might send him back to Triple-A. This would not be a demotion, but a strategic retreat to refine his range and footwork. The organization values his poise at the plate and his potential ceiling, but they also respect the daily grind of a major league outfield. Having him start next season in the minors could be the key to unlocking his full potential, ensuring that when he returns, his glove is as reliable as his bat.

The decision will hinge on how quickly he can adapt. The bat is already there, a proven asset that justifies the call-up. The defense, however, is a work in progress, a raw material that needs shaping. De Paula’s honesty about his shortcomings is a strength in itself. He is not pretending to be a finished product; he is showing the work. As the dust settles on the practice field, the focus remains clear: turn the heads, catch the balls, and earn the right to stand in the outfield every day. The hate is the fuel, and the improvement is the engine.