The Los Angeles Dodgers recently called up their No. 1 prospect Josue De Paula directly from Double-A to serve as the designated hitter with Shohei Ohtani out.
However, De Paula is more than a short-term substitution. He is expected to be a key piece for the franchise soon, and if he performs well, he may not need any time in Triple-A at all. The problem is that when the Dodgers are healthy, there is no spot for him.
De Paula is an outfielder and will need a place to play. The Dodgers are stuck with Kyle Tucker after paying him, and Andy Pages is great in center field. Hernández has one year left on his deal and could be the odd man out. The 33-year-old had a .738 OPS last year and has been a little better this year, posting a .758 OPS. However, he is not close to the player he was in 2024. He is due $22.1 million next year and has a $15 million club option for 2028.
If the Dodgers like what they see in De Paula, there is a chance they want him with the big-league team to start next year. At the very least, he will be in Triple-A, working to fine-tune things before a return to The Show. Regardless, Hernández being in Los Angeles blocks him.
The Dodgers could easily trade Hernández and create a path for De Paula to take the left field job. De Paula is not a finished product and needs to work on his defense. However, he figures to be an elite hitter for years to come. He has great power, speed and a very good eye at the plate.
In four games so far, he has two hits, a home run, a stolen base and five walks. The team clearly believes in him if they feel fine calling him up straight from Double-A, and trading Hernández would be the biggest sign of faith in his ability.