The Los Angeles Dodgers' quest for a 3rd straight World Series title begins on Saturday. They will play the Atlanta Braves in the best-of-five NLDS at Dodger Stadium.
Before the game, OF Josue De Paula and 2B Hyeseong Kim took batting practice alongside Shohei Ohtani before the Dodgers finalized the roster, per Dodgers Nation. They shared laughs as they took swings.
Over the season, both players had their moments. De Paula, 21, played in 11 games this year, batting .323 with one home run and 7 RBIs. He also filled in for Ohtani while he was injured. Meanwhile, Kim, 27, played in 43 games while batting .259 with one home run and 11 RBIs.
If included on the roster, they would serve particular roles. De Paula would be a Bat-Only bench option, while Kim would be a pinch runner known for his blistering speed on the basepaths.
Article Continues BelowA look at Shohei Ohtani, Josue De Paula and Hyeseong Kim ending off today’s workout with BP on the field.
We’ll know the Dodgers NLDS roster real soon 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0VpRFasOxa
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) October 3, 2026
De Paula joined the team Tuesday after being optioned. Kim was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The Dodgers steamrolled through the season despite injuries to key players such as Ohtani and occasional stretches of losses. Overall, they finished 100-62 and won their 5th straight NL West Division title. They have also won 13 NL West titles in the last 14 seasons. Overall, they have the pieces in place to win their third straight title.
Meanwhile, the Braves are coming off eliminating the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Wild Card series. The final roster is expected to be released sometime early Saturday morning.
Game 1 of the 2026 NLDS is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CST/3:00 p.m. CST/4:00 p.m. EST at Dodger Stadium.