DePaola: Ohtani Shohei was called up to the major leagues after injury, and his role in the playoffs attracted attention

Depaola. (File photo)

[Sports Center/Comprehensive Report] At the end of the regular season, Dodger's top outfielder Josue De Paula was pulled to the major leagues due to Shohei Ohtani's injury. Although Ohtani was released after returning to the team, De Paula is still expected to be included in the playoff roster. In this regard, Major League Baseball official website reporter Theo DeRosa also wrote an article predicting DePaola's possible role in the playoffs.

DePaola's first hit in the major leagues was a home run, and he showed excellent batting velocity and home plate discipline. In a small sample of 42 at-bats, he posted terrifying statistics of .323/.500/.581. However, DeRosa bluntly stated that DePaola's offense may help the Dodgers in October, but the Dodgers are currently unwilling to sacrifice outfield defense, so they plan to use DePaula as the designated hitter, but now the designated hitter is occupied by the guy wearing the No. 17 jersey.

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"Yes, the existence of Shohei Ohtani will indeed make it more difficult for DePaola to get a seat in the playoffs." DeRosa pointed out that after Ohtani and Dalton Rushing returned one after another, it will be more difficult for DePaola to get a playing space in the playoffs; but there is a reason why he became the first big player of the Dodgers to skip Triple-A and be directly promoted to the major leagues since 2014. Among them, his data against right-handers may become an important weapon in the playoffs.

DePaola has a batting average of 0.314 against right-handers and an offensive index of 1.016 in Class 2A this season. DeRosa believes that DePaola can serve as a pinch hitter in the playoffs or as a designated hitter when Ohtani does not start. Although his sprint speed is below average, he still has 31 steals in the minor leagues this season and is equally destructive between the bases.

DeRosa concluded that the playoffs may be a stage of great pressure for the 21-year-old DePaola, but whether it is in the divisional round or the Dodgers can go further, DePaola may become a key member of the defending team's success in this year's playoffs.