Dodgers Carry De Paula and Kim on NLDS Roster

Josue De Paula and Hyeseong Kim made the Dodgers' 26-man National League Division Series roster, with Alex Call and Dalton Rushing left off ahead of Game 1.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have finalized the 26-man roster they will carry into the National League Division Series, and it features both Josue De Paula and Hyeseong Kim. The club confirmed the group ahead of Game 1. Alex Call and Dalton Rushing had also been in the running for the final spots, but Los Angeles left both off.

According to the report, the decision came down to certainty against potential. Call and Rushing were cast as the more established options, while De Paula and Kim each offered a specific tool the rest of the roster lacks. The Dodgers chose the latter.

De Paula built his case with a remarkable introduction to the majors. Across 11 games he has posted a .323/.500/.545 batting line with a 1.081 OPS, reaching base in half of his plate appearances. The report suggested that with production like that, his roster spot would not be in question on any other team.

Playing time is the complication. De Paula has been used only at designated hitter in the big leagues, and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said that is how the team plans to deploy him going forward. Shohei Ohtani fills that role daily, and although De Paula played the outfield in the minor leagues, concerns about his defense have made the Dodgers reluctant to use him there.

That narrows his responsibilities for the postseason. De Paula is expected to appear strictly as a left-handed pinch hitter, giving the bench an on-base threat and providing cover at designated hitter if the injuries Ohtani has dealt with resurface.

Kim is back in the majors for the first time since May, when he was on the roster while Mookie Betts recovered from an oblique injury. He has spent the stretch since with the Oklahoma City Comets, the organization's Triple-A affiliate. In 85 games there he batted .363 with three home runs and 12 doubles, and he stole 15 bases, though the report noted he found consistent offensive momentum hard to sustain at that level.

The Dodgers picked Kim for his ability to handle both infield and outfield positions, his contact-oriented approach at the plate, and his value as a pinch runner. Friedman pointed to that final quality in explaining the move, saying he sees plenty of strengths on the club but that foot speed is not one of them.

Neither player is expected to start or even appear in every game of the series. Even in limited roles, though, one offers on-base ability off the bench and the other supplies speed and defensive coverage, giving Los Angeles two ways to shape a tight postseason game.

Up next, the Atlanta Braves visit the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, October 3. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. EDT, and the game airs on FOX.