The Dodgers are calling up top prospect Josue De Paula, and he will not have to wait long to make his major league debut.
The 21-year-old outfielder is expected to join the team Friday when Los Angeles opens a three game series against the Marlins in Miami.
De Paula is skipping Triple-A entirely, a move that marks the first time in 12 years under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman that the Dodgers have called up a position player prospect directly from Double-A.
The jump reflects just how advanced his bat has looked all season at Double-A Tulsa, where he slashed .303/.401/.547 with 27 home runs, 104 RBIs, 37 doubles and 31 stolen bases across 124 games.
He also drew 81 walks compared to just 87 strikeouts, numbers scouts view as remarkably polished for his age.
De Paula ranks among the sport's top 10 overall prospects, checking in fourth on Baseball America's list, sixth on MLB Pipeline's and 10th according to ESPN's Kiley McDaniel.
His left-handed swing has drawn comparisons to a smaller, more athletic version of Yordan Alvarez, and MLB Pipeline considers him the organization's most advanced hitting prospect since Corey Seager.
Defensively, evaluators are far less bullish, viewing him as a below-average corner outfielder who profiles best as a designated hitter long term.
