Dodgers Activate Shohei Ohtani, Option Red-Hot Prospect Josue De Paula
MLB Trade Rumors reported the Dodgers reinstated Shohei Ohtani and optioned Josue De Paula.
The are getting their superstar back, which means a rookie who just mashed his way through a cup of coffee has to pack his bags.
MLB Trade Rumors relayed the inevitable roster crunch on Wednesday: officially reinstated from the 15-day injured list and optioned top prospect Josue De Paula.
De Paula did exactly what you want a highly touted prospect to do when the franchise anchor needs a breather. The kid jumped straight from Double-A Tulsa, reached base six times in his first 11 at-bats, launched his first major league home run, and posted a ridiculous 1.081 OPS across 31 total at-bats. Sending him down after that feels like getting fired for doing your job too well, but that is the reality of sharing a roster with a unicorn.
hits the active roster just in time for the stretch run. He was shelved earlier this month with left knee and right biceps issues, pausing a season where he has already racked up 30 home runs and a .902 OPS. The Dodgers managed to survive without him, sitting at 90-59 and holding a four-game lead over the for the National League's number two seed and a crucial first-round bye.
Getting back in the designated hitter spot completely shifts the math for opposing pitchers and live betting totals. is gearing up for a massive divisional series against the starting Wednesday, and dropping a rested into the middle of that lineup is a nightmare scenario for a San Diego pitching staff trying to secure their own playoff positioning.
De Paula will be back, likely as a permanent fixture in 2027. But right now, the are in championship-or-bust mode, and you do not leave a healthy in the dugout when October is knocking on the door.