LOS ANGELES — Josue De Paula popped out as a pinch-hitter for the final out of Game 2, in his major league postseason debut. The comeback attempt fell short, but just by getting into a game at his age was notable.
De Paula on Sunday was 21 years, 133 days old, and became only the fourth Dodgers position player that young to appear in a postseason game, and the first since 19-year-old outfielder Willie Crawford appeared in Game 6 of the 1965 World Series. The other Dodgers position players younger
than De Paula to play in the postseason were both 21-year-old outfielders — Eddie Miskis in the 1947 World Series and Ron Fairly in the 1959 World Series.
The other Dodgers as young or younger than De Paula to play in the postseason were pitchers — Johnny Podres (1955) and Don Drysdale (1956) for Brooklyn, followed by Fernando Valenzuela (1981), Clayton Kershaw (2008), and Julio Urías (2016).
Of these nine players all no older than 21 years, 133 days old, only De Paula, Valenzuela (0 for 7, walk, sacrifice), and Urías (0 for 1) batted in the postseason at Dodger Stadium. So it can be said that Josue De Paula is the youngest Dodgers position player to bat in the postseason in the 65-year history of Dodger Stadium.
If we count players from other teams, six position players were younger than De Paula playing in the postseason at Chavez Ravine:
- Claudell Washington, A’s, 1974 World Series — 20 years, 42 days in first game
- Gregg Jefferies, Mets, 1988 NLCS — 21 years, 64 days
- Andruw Jones, Braves, 1996 NLDS — 19 years, 162 days
- Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves, 2018 NLDS — 20 years, 290 days
- Juan Soto, Nationals, 2019 NLDS — 20 years, 343 days
- Jordan Lawlar, Diamondbacks, 2023 NLDS — 21 years, 84 days
De Paula’s postseason debut followed a busy day for the rookie, who was also honored along with pitcher Christian Zazueta as the Dodgers minor league player and pitcher of the year for 2026.
During a pregame session in the media room at Dodger Stadium, De Paula was asked if he was more nervous talking to media or being in the batter’s box.
“I don’t feel like it’s nerve-racking, you know what I’m saying? I’m just talking with people. We’re all people at the end of the day,” De Paula said. “I love being in the batter’s box. I love competing. It’s not really nerve-racking. It’s normal.”
