Going back four years to the 2020 World Championship team, it appeared that the Los Angeles Dodgers had an incredibly solid outfield foundation at the major league level. Mookie Betts was among the elite right fielders in the game, and despite his offensive inconsistencies, Cody Bellinger was an extraordinary defender in center. Although Joc Pederson was drifting past his prime as a hitter and defender, Chris Taylor produced the second-best OPS of his career at .843.
Fast forward four years, and it’s hard to even guess what the complexion of the Los Angeles outfield might look like in a year or so. Teoscar Hernandez is the anchor of this year’s outfield, but his contract expires at the end of the season. If he continues to impress with the bat, the 31-year-old will certainly draw attention and receive many multi-year offers that exceed his current AAV of $15 million.
Andy Pages might be around for a while, but it’s tough to cement him in as the future of the Dodgers based on what we saw happen to James Outman in the early part of 2024. And that’s not to say that Outman won’t rebound and return as a regular in the big-league lineup soon. Additionally, Miguel Vargas has seen some quality time in left field and could continue to receive more playing time as the season progresses.
And, although it’s not likely, Betts could easily slide back into right field if there’s ever a drastic need.
Bottom line — there’s no telling how the Los Angeles outfield might look from one month to the next.
One of the most intriguing outfield prospects on the Los Angeles farm is 19-year-old Josue De Paula. The cousin of former NBA stars Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair, the lefty hitting and lefty throwing De Paula has pure athleticism written all over his pedigree. Born in Brooklyn, he was signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2022.
Last year, De Paula hit .284/.396/.372 in Single-A as an 18-year-old, leading scouts to believe that he could eventually develop into a perennial .300-plus hitter.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder still may have a few more years to go in terms of physical development. Although his arm is decent, he still lacks good instincts in outfield judgement, bringing back memories of Yordan Alvarez’s early years on the Los Angeles farm as an outfielder. However, he has played all three outfield spots over the past two years at Rancho Cucamonga, showcasing his potential versatility.
This year, De Paula is hitting .259/.378/.457 through 43 games, but MLB Pipeline likes him so much that they moved him to No. 2 in the most recent version of the Dodger prospect rankings. His 28 walks already this year suggest that he’s becoming more patient and developing more discipline at the plate.
According to MLB Pipeline, “De Paula is built to hit with a sweet left-handed stroke and advanced aptitude to recognize pitches and make quality swing decisions. He spent the offseason training with Juan Soto and Elly De La Cruz in Florida, adding significant muscle to his 6-foot-3 frame that should translate into increased power in 2024. With his hitting ability, bat speed and projectable strength, he could develop into a .300 hitter with 30 homers on an annual basis once he learns to drive balls in the air more consistently.”
Of course, it’s too early to say whether De Paula will emerge as an everyday MLB player — see Outman, Vargas and Pages. However, on paper, he currently has one of the best chances of anyone on the prospects list.