Latest news with #DePaula
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago White Sox prospect Noah Schultz struggles as National League wins MLB All-Star Futures Game
ATLANTA — Josue De Paula hit a three-run home run in a four-run fourth inning and the National League beat the American League 4-2 on Saturday in the All-Star Futures Game featuring top prospects. The National League is 4-1-1 since the Futures Game moved from a United States versus World format to AL versus NL in 2019. Noah Schultz, a left-hander in the Chicago White Sox's organization, gave up four hits and four runs, including the line-drive home run by De Paula that traveled 416 feet to right-center. De Paula, an outfielder, plays for High-A Great Lakes in the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization. De Paula, selected the game's Most Valuable Player, said the home run is 'definitely a motivator' in his path to the major leagues. 'For me mentally, a big moment,' De Paula said. 'It proved to me, especially to myself, who I really am.' Schultz then gave up a single to LuJames Groover, who scored on Chicago Cubs prospect Owen Caissie's double to left field. New York Yankees infield prospect George Lombard Jr., the son of Detroit Tigers bench coach George Lombard, walked, stole second base and scored on Sox prospect Braden Montgomery's groundout in the third to give the AL a 1-0 lead. Lombard also had a double. Josue Briceño, a Double A catcher for Detroit, tripled and scored on Sebastian Walcott's sacrifice fly in the fourth to push the lead to 2-0. Two former Atlanta stars, Chipper Jones and Marquis Grissom, were the managers for the NL and AL, respectively. Jones was an eight-time All-Star third baseman who spent his entire career with Atlanta before becoming a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee in 2018. Jones and Grissom were teammates on Atlanta's 1995 World Series championship team. Grissom caught a fly ball in center field for the clinching final out in the win over Cleveland. 'You can't measure my chill bumps right now with a yard stick,' Jones said when asked about the memory of watching Grissom 'just glide to it and knowing that he's got a bead on it and this puppy's over, it was like it was happening in slow motion.' Right-hander JR Ritchie, an Atlanta prospect who has pitched for High-A Rome and Double-A Columbus this season, because the 10th pitcher to start a Futures Game in his organization's home park. Ritchie had two strikeouts in a scoreless first inning. Ritchie said he received a phone call from Jones telling him he would start. 'It was unbelievable,' Ritchie said. 'I never thought Chipper Jones would call me.' Left-hander Parker Messick, who is with Cleveland's Triple-A Columbus, had a scoreless first inning for the AL. Grissom's son, Marquis Grissom Jr., a right-hander for the Washington Nationals' Triple-A Rochester, gave up one run in one inning for the NL while his father was in the opposing dugout. He said he was looking forward to bragging about the win to his father. 'He lost!' Grissom Jr. said. 'He took the L so he better be ready when I get home!' 'I'm just happy to be a part of this, and get a chance to see my son, all the work he's put in to be a part of this and excel his baseball career,' the elder Grissom said, adding the chance 'to be around the future stars of the game, it doesn't really get any better than that for me.' Seattle minor leaguer Jurrangelo Cijntje showed off his switch-pitching skills in his scoreless second inning for the AL. He recorded a strikeout against Jesús Made while pitching from the right side, when threw from the left side while coaxing a fly ball from De Paula before giving up a single to LuJames Groover, again from the right side and then switching yet again to strike out Joe Mack and end the inning.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Futures Game MVP Josue De Paula wants to be a Dodger ‘for a very long time'
ATLANTA — The center fielder for the Dodgers' Class A Great Lakes affiliate is a former first-round draft pick. The other two outfielders were selected for the Futures Game. Who's the best outfielder on the team? 'We're all good, brother,' said the left fielder, Josue De Paula. 'We've all got talent. We all excel somewhere. 'Us together? It's a dream squad. I don't feel like you see that much talent that often.' De Paula flashed his considerable talent Saturday, hitting a three-run homer that decided the National League's 4-2 victory over the American League and earned him the Futures Game most valuable player award. The only other Dodgers prospect to win that award: infielder Chin-Lung Hu, in 2007. 'This is definitely motivating for me,' DePaula said. 'Mentally, it was a big moment, to prove, especially to myself, who I really am.' De Paula's home run traveled 416 feet, triggering a round of fireworks in the sky and a lump in De Paula's throat as he crossed home plate. 'I was overtaken by emotion,' he said, 'especially doing it in front of my dad.' His father lives in New York City. The Midwest League is far away. Perhaps the major leagues are not so far away. De Paula is 20, but he is in his fourth pro season. The Dodgers signed him out of the Dominican Republic, but he was born in New York City and he is a second cousin of former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury. 'Baseball called me,' De Paula said. 'I fell in love with it at a young age.' Zyhir Hope, the Great Lakes right fielder, also appeared in the Futures Game. He singled ahead of DePaula and scored on the home run, so he was waiting at home plate to congratulate De Paula. 'We do it often,' De Paula said, smiling. Hope, also 20, smiled when asked what he liked about De Paula's game. 'Everything,' he said. 'He takes it easily. He's calm, relaxed and laid back, but he works hard. He's a great dude.' Before the season, Baseball Prospectus ranked De Paula and Hope among the top 10 prospects in baseball. Currently, MLB Pipeline ranks both among the top 40. De Paula offers power, speed, and advanced plate discipline, although scouts wonder whether he can stick in left field or might need to try first base or designated hitter. Hope has advanced from a good-fielding prospect with uncertain hitting skills in the Chicago Cubs system — the Dodgers got him in the Michael Busch trade — to a gap hitter with speed. This is the time of year, of course, where contenders trade prospects to fill major league needs. Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers' president of baseball operations, rarely trades his top prospects, and De Paula ranks No. 1 in the Dodgers' farm system. On the other hand, the Dodgers need pitching help. 'I do want to get to L.A. I hope that's in God's plans,' De Paula said. 'At the end of the day, we never make the decisions. We've just got to focus on what we need to do on the field and whatever happens, happens. 'But I really do hope I become a Dodger and I stay there for a very long time.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dodgers Predicted to Add Paul Skenes in 6-Player Trade
Dodgers Predicted to Add Paul Skenes in 6-Player Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports. At this point, the sight of Paul Skenes in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform feels inevitable. Why wouldn't the Dodgers pursue arguably baseball's top pitcher, especially given their proven yearly commitment to winning the World Series? Advertisement Although Skenes is under team control through 2029, that hasn't stopped early speculation about him eventually moving to Los Angeles. The question is whether the Dodgers will acquire Skenes, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, via trade or free agency. ESPN's David Schoenfield opted for the former on Tuesday morning, suggesting a potential six-player trade between the Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates ahead of the July 31 deadline. Dodgers acquire: RHP Paul Skenes Pirates acquire: C/OF Dalton Rushing, OF Josue De Paula, IF Alex Freeland, RHP Emmet Sheehan, LHP Jackson Ferris Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul SkenesCharles LeClaire-Imagn Images Major League Baseball currently lists De Paula as the sport's No. 27 prospect, with Freeland not far behind at No. 42. Jackson Ferris is No. 69, theoretically giving the Pirates three top-70 prospects for one player. Advertisement "Rushing is blocked at catcher by Will Smith," Schoenfield argued, "and he and De Paula probably have more power upside (De Paula has drawn Yordan Alvarez comparisons) than Clark and McGonigle." But? "The Pirates might, understandably, ask for Roki Sasaki, and that could be the deal-breaker for the Dodgers," Schoenfield wrote. Skenes is 4-7 with a 1.94 ERA and a 125-30 K-BB ratio in 116 innings. He leads all pitchers with a 4.8 bWAR and is currently a -140 favorite to win the NL Cy Young on the FanDuel Sportsbook. Major League Baseball projected that Freeland could debut this year, while Ferris and De Paula have 2026 ETAs. Advertisement Related: Hall of Famer Makes Historic Paul Skenes Prediction After Pirates Loss Related: Yankees End Anthony Volpe Era in Risky Paul Skenes Trade Idea This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
19-Year-Old Dodgers Phenom Turned Heads Against MLB Veteran Twice His Age Saturday
Los Angeles Dodgers 19-year-old phenom Josue De Paula had a game to remember Saturday night for the High-A Great Lakes Loons. And it came against a familiar face. De Paula, the Dodgers No. 2 prospect (MLB Pipeline's No. 35 overall), was 3-for-6 with two home runs and four RBI in a 13-5 victory over the Dayton Dragons. Advertisement His two home runs came off 38-year-old MLB veteran Wade Miley, a player twice De Paula's age. Returning from Tommy John surgery, Miley, who signed a minor league deal with the Reds in January, was making his third rehab start for the Dragons. In three starts with Dayton, Miley has struggled, going. 0-2 with four home runs allowed and a 15.88 ERA in five and two-thirds innings. In 2023, Miley made 23 starts with the Milwaukee Brewers, recording a 3.14 ERA and 1.14 WHIP on his way to a 2.6 wins above replacement. He made only two starts for Milwaukee last season before undergoing surgery. De Paula, who signed with the Dodgers as an international free agent in 2022, has been tearing it up for Great Lakes this season. Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paula against the Chicago White SoxMark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images In 31 games, De Paula is slashing .307/.428/.553 with six home runs, 17 RBI and 23 walks compared to 22 strikeouts. Earlier this year, ESPN MLB Insider Kiley McDaniel had De Paula listed as his No. 20 overall prospect, comparing him to Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez. Advertisement De Paula was born in Brooklyn before moving to the Dominican Republic. He's the second cousin of former New York Knicks great Stephon Marbury and fellow NBA player, Sebastian Telfair. He isn't the only young phenom turning heads at the plate for Great Lakes this season. 20-year-old sluggers Zyhir Hope (Dodgers No. 5 prospect) and Kendall George (Dodgers No. 13), and 21-year-old Logan Wagner (Dodgers No. 24) have combined to hit 14 home runs and 60 RBI. Related: Dodgers Get Bad News on Former 1st-Round Pick
