The Los Angeles Dodgers squandered an opportunity to secure a series win over the Miami Marlins on Sunday, but it was still a memorable game for top prospect Josue De Paula.
The 21-year-old, playing in only his third game since being called up from Double-A Tulsa, reached an important milestone by recording his first MLB hit, a three-run shot off Eury Pérez. It was part of a 2-for-2 effort at the plate that also included a double and walk.
“I’ll never forget it,” De Paula said after the game on SportsNet LA. “It was awesome knowing that my parents are here, in that moment, trying to do something for the team, keep the ball rolling, and that was the result. So that was awesome.”
De Paula’s home run left his bat at 108.2 mph and traveled 416 feet. He flipped his bat in excitement and took a moment to admire the majestic blast.
“I was just enjoying the moment, man,” De Paula said. “There will never be, I feel like, a moment as special. That’s my first one, so I’ll never forget it.”
Making the home run all the more memorable was reaction from players in the dugout. De Paula is still relatively new to the team, but he already feels at home in L.A. thanks to the support he has received.
“It was sick to see all them react that way,” De Paula said. “They were all rooting for me, so they’ve been great and accepted me basically into the team. So it’s awesome.”
De Paula retrieved his home run ball and said he is going to give it to his father. He joined Ryan Ward as the only two Dodgers players to hit their first Major League home run this season.
Josue De Paula makes Dodgers history
De Paula made Dodgers franchise history as their first player to ever wear No. 95. Overall, he’s just the sixth player in MLB history with a 95 uniform number.
De Paula’s arrival was already noteworthy in that he’s the organization’s first position player prospect to get promoted directly from the Double-A level during Andrew Friedman’s tenure as president of baseball operations.
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