The Los Angeles Dodgers have given their fans a glimpse into their very promising future, with top prospect Josue De Paula getting his cup of coffee in the big leagues to end the 2026 MLB regular season. Shohei Ohtani's stint on the 15-day injured list opened up the opportunity for De Paula to make his mark and perhaps even earn himself a spot on the postseason roster.

While De Paula hasn't exactly set the world on fire just yet to start his life in the big leagues, he is getting on base quite often (.400 OBP in seven games) — suggesting that he can still make an impact even when he hasn't been making the best quality of contact with the baseball. Nonetheless, being part of the Dodgers roster that sealed its 13th NL West crown in 14 seasons is a surreal feeling for a 21-year-old getting his first taste of MLB action.

“It's an awesome feeling. I feel like I just got here, so much stuff has been going on. It's happening super fast but I'm just enjoying the moment, enjoying it while it's lasting,” De Paula told Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA. “It's awesome to see. It's awesome to learn from. Everybody's here to win. I'm here to help.”

Josue De Paula's interview with Kirsten Watson. pic.twitter.com/xPUbtf2iNK

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 17, 2026

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De Paula is one of the most highly-touted prospects in the big leagues for a reason, and the Dodgers have the luxury of bringing him along slowly. They envision him to be a part of the team for the next decade or so, and if he keeps this up, he'll be part of many Dodgers teams that make it deep into the postseason.

“I feel like I live for those special moments. I can't wait until we start winning in the playoffs. It's gonna be cool,” De Paula said.

The 21-year-old started on Thursday in their 8-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds, going 1-4 from the plate with one RBI and one walk.