Josue De Paula prepares for potential postseason role with Dodgers

Josue De Paula is currently preparing for a potential spot on the Los Angeles Dodgers' postseason roster after being called up from Double-A. On Thursday, he participated in an off-day workout at Dodger Stadium, where he took part in batting practice ahead of the National League Division Series. The Dodgers have not yet finalized their playoff roster, but De Paula is competing for a left-handed-hitting role on the bench alongside teammate Dalton Rushing. Manager Dave Roberts praised De Paula's hitting skills, stating, "He’s just a special hitter. [His skill set] lines up in the postseason. And no moment is going to be too big for that kid." In his brief stint in the majors last month, De Paula recorded a .323 batting average with one home run, five extra-base hits, and seven RBIs in 11 games. He expressed confidence in his abilities, stating, "It’s crazy. I mean, I’ve always had super confidence. But I feel like this just gave me a little feel to it." After being optioned to Triple-A for the final games of the regular season upon Shohei Ohtani's return, De Paula contributed to Oklahoma City's postseason run, including a key RBI double in their Pacific Coast League clincher. He is now ready for the upcoming challenges in October.