Josue De Paula’s third homer in four games lifts Double-A Tulsa to another win

Double-A Tulsa is riding a fresh jolt from Josue De Paula, whose power surge has accelerated into something closer to a streak. On Thursday, De Paula launched his third home run in four games, a three-run long ball that helped carry Tulsa to a win.

What makes the moment stand out is how quickly the production has come. The blast arrives just days after De Paula hit the first walk-off home run of his Minor League career, a swing that suggested the arrival of a complete new gear for the Dodgers’ system. Now, instead of settling after a signature breakthrough, he has kept adding to the total with another back-to-back stretch of impact swings.

De Paula’s profile adds context to why Tulsa’s success has been tied to his bat. He is listed by MLB Pipeline as the Dodgers’ top prospect, and the organization also ranks him as the No. 6 prospect overall in Major League Baseball’s prospect lists. That combination, a high ceiling and a strong lineup fit at the Double-A level, is usually what teams hope to see once a player’s confidence and rhythm click at the plate.

In games like these, the damage is often about timing, not just raw strength. A three-run home run can quickly change the shape of an inning, turning a manageable deficit or tightening a contest into a margin the other team has to chase. De Paula’s recent run suggests Tulsa’s offense is not merely benefitting from one hot night, but from repeated leverage swings that keep him in the middle of the lineup’s most dangerous moments.

Tulsa, as a Double-A club, also sits at a crucial stage of player development. Performers here are close enough to the upper levels that teams routinely track how well players handle pace, secondary pitching looks, and adjustment plans from opponents. De Paula’s ability to hit for power during this kind of evaluation period matters beyond one box score, because it shows he can produce against more advanced scouting and more deliberate game planning.

There is also a storyline angle to how his surge has unfolded. A walk-off homer is the kind of event that can reset a hitter’s internal timing and confidence, especially when it is described as the first of a Minor League career. De Paula appears to have leveraged that breakthrough into continued results rather than letting the moment pass. The transition from that emotional, high-leverage hit to another multi-run homer suggests the power is not accidental.

For the Dodgers and their prospects staff, the next step is straightforward: keep validating the output over a longer stretch. Short runs are common, but sustained extra-base production is what alters an organization’s projection for when a player might be ready for the next stage. Tulsa’s games will continue to offer a live test, and De Paula’s recent home-run frequency has made him a recurring focal point for both teammates and opponents.