Los Angeles Dodgers top prospect Josue De Paula erupts at Double-A with 4 hits and 5 RBIs in a single game.

James Tibbs III might have dominated the early-season spotlight for Dodgers prospects, but Josue De Paula shows that the farm system boasts multiple emerging talents. The MLB’s 12th-ranked prospect is off to a blazing start in the 2026 campaign.

The No. 12 MLB prospect has ignited the 2026 season with his best performance to date. De Paula launched his first homer of the year, matched his career-high of four hits in a game, and drove in a personal-best five runs, helping Double-A Tulsa defeat Springfield 10–4 on the road.

The 20-year-old phenom went 4-for-17 with a .235 batting average and 2 RBIs across his first four games.

De Paula sparked the offense with a single in the first inning, added two more RBIs with another single in the second, and tacked on another RBI with a third single in the fourth. The Dodgers’ top prospect capped his night with a two-run homer in the sixth—his first of the season and his first at Double-A.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, De Paula moved to the Dominican Republic during high school and signed with the Dodgers in 2022, starting his pro career strongly in the Dominican Summer League. Cousin of former NBA star Stephon Marbury, he continued to impress in the U.S. with Rancho Cucamonga in 2023, then advanced to High-A later in the 2024 season after opening the year in the California League at age 19. De Paula finished that impressive season with 107 games, an .809 OPS, and a career-high 84 walks.

As an advanced hitter with excellent zone control, De Paula had his breakthrough moment during last year’s Futures Game, where he blasted a three-run homer off fellow top prospect Noah Schultz and earned MVP honors.

Even after cooling off following a hot start at High-A Great Lakes, De Paula posted an .827 OPS with 81 walks and 32 steals over 98 games for the Loons. He made a brief four-game appearance for Tulsa at the end of the season.

After a quiet start to the season, De Paula didn’t just shine on Wednesday—he showcased why the hype around him keeps building. This kind of night felt less like a breakout and more like a preview of what’s ahead.