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Josue De Paula the youngest Dodgers position player in postseason in 61 years

The Los Angeles Dodgers made history on Sunday when 21-year-old infielder Josue De Paula became the youngest position player in franchise postseason history to take the field, a distinction not seen since Willie Crawford at age 19 in the 1965 World Series. De Paula, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the ninth during Game 2 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, grounded out to end the Dodgers’ comeback attempt—but his participation alone marked a milestone.

His debut followed a standout rookie season, capped by being named the Dodgers’ minor league player of the year. Among the nine Dodgers players aged 21 or younger to appear in postseason action, only De Paula, Fernando Valenzuela, and Julio Urías had previously batted in the postseason at Dodger Stadium, underscoring his rarity in the club’s storied history.

Beyond the Dodgers, only six position players across MLB history were younger than De Paula when they played in a postseason game at the stadium, including Andruw Jones at 19 and Ronald Acuña Jr. at 20.

De Paula also reflected on his rapid rise, downplaying nerves in a pregame interview, calling the experience ‘normal’ rather than daunting.

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