Josue De Paula on mission to improve defense — and break into Dodgers lineup

Josue De Paula is focusing on improving his outfield defence to earn a regular place in the Dodgers’ line-up. Although the club rates his hitting highly, Shohei Ohtani is contracted as its designated hitter for seven more seasons, leaving De Paula’s route to playing time dependent on becoming trusted in the field.

The 21-year-old plans to train at his agent Scott Boras’s Miami facility, working with former major leaguers Alex Ochoa and Jackie Bradley Jr. De Paula mostly played as a designated hitter after his September call-up and was taken out of his sole start in left field after six innings. Dodgers executives said his defence had improved and expressed confidence he could become an above-average outfielder; doing so could also make Teoscar Hernández expendable.