Dodgers top prospect set for major role following Shohei Ohtani injury

The Los Angeles Dodgers are going to be without superstar Shohei Ohtani for some time. 

On Wednesday night, it was reported that Ohtani was headed to the IL, which comes after he was held out of the lineup for the sixth time in seven games. In turn, the Dodgers are calling up their top prospect, Josue De Paula, and it turns out that they have a large role in store for him. 

What type of role will Josue De Paula get with the Dodgers?

"Josue De Paula will get 'the lion’s share' of starts at DH, but Dave Roberts left the door open for De Paula to play some outfield," Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic wrote. 

De Paula comes straight from Double-A, and he has been on fire this season, registering a .303/.401/.547 line with 27 home runs and 31 stolen bases in 124 games.

The Dodgers have been dealing with some injury concerns with Ohtani, and now he heads to the IL with three weeks remaining in the regular season. The hope is that he can be healthy when the playoffs begin as the Dodgers aim for a third straight World Series title. 

De Paula will get lots of usage right away, and it will be interesting to see how he does despite skipping Triple-A and being thrown right into the fire. The Dodgers face the Miami Marlins on Friday, and it seems highly likely that De Paula will be in the starting lineup.