NL DIVISION SERIES: BRAVES VS DODGERS

October 4, 2026

Josue De Paula

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. Josue, what was the conversation like with, I'm assuming, Dave Roberts on making the NLDS roster?

JOSUE DE PAULA: Just congratulations and he trusts my abilities to come forth in NLDS in the postseason, and saying he trusts me and congratulations.

Q. When did he tell you this?

JOSUE DE PAULA: I believe like two or three days ago.

Q. Josue, have you ever served a role like this before where you're primarily a pinch hitter?

JOSUE DE PAULA: No. I probably did it once or twice my whole Minor League career and stuff like that. But just to be my main role, no, but I feel like I'm getting used to it pretty well.

Q. Anything special you've done to prepare for it or people that you've leaned on?

JOSUE DE PAULA: Yeah, the vets, obviously they try to help me. They know that it's new for me, and they just try to get me little tips here and there.

Q. Josue, in Cincinnati you pinch-hit late in the game. Can you describe what that feeling was like coming up to the plate in that situation since it's so unfamiliar?

JOSUE DE PAULA: Just a normal thing. I just try to do my routine and try to keep it normal, like what I would do every day if I was starting. I like the adrenaline of it. Yeah, it was good. So it was nothing crazy.

Q. I think '24 when you were with the Loons was the last time you pinch-hit. Do you have any recollection of that whatsoever?

JOSUE DE PAULA: Not at all.

Q. What do you remember about the last time you played at Truist Park?

JOSUE DE PAULA: Truist Park, where's that?

Q. Futures Game.

JOSUE DE PAULA: Yeah, I guess MVP thing is the only thing I really remember, home run. So yeah, that was cool.

Q. Obviously before a month ago, you didn't envision being in this spot. What were your original plans for October before obviously you realized you were part of the team's plans?

JOSUE DE PAULA: Before I knew it? Take myself home, chill for a little bit. Take probably three weeks off with family and get back to training and stuff. I wasn't expecting myself to be here.

Q. Both Dave and Andrew have complimented you for your slow heartbeat in games. Where does that come from?

JOSUE DE PAULA: I always kind of feel like I was a chill individual. I try not to get it too rushed in my head, and I just try to make it just be in the present. I feel like it just comes naturally to me. I don't know why, but it does. God-given, you could say.

Q. What were the emotions of hearing the news that you're going to make the postseason roster?

JOSUE DE PAULA: I was kind of shocked. Yeah, I was shocked. I was happy. There was a lot of emotions going on at the same time. Yeah, a lot of thoughts going into it, like envisioning how this is going to be. I'm just going along for the ride and see how everything comes to me, so yeah.

Q. Through your first 11 games with the Dodgers, you brought a level of confidence and energy that the fan base loved, the team really benefited from. What does it mean to make an impact on such a talented roster like that, and how do you plan to carry that into the postseason?

JOSUE DE PAULA: I mean, it was cool. I just try to -- at the end of the day this is a game, and I just try to make sure everybody's having fun while we're doing it. Why not kick butt and have fun at the same time, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, just try to make sure everybody is having fun and enjoy themselves.

Q. What does it mean to become a fan favorite as fast as you did?

JOSUE DE PAULA: I wasn't trying to, I guess it just came to me. It's awesome to have the support of the fans, just seeing how I come off to them. Yeah, I love it. Thanks to the fans.

Q. I know it's only been one game here in the NLDS, but oftentimes you hear guys talk about the game speed in the playoffs and how things can kind of speed up sometimes. For you just being able to watch a game yesterday, how valuable did you find maybe that just being as kind of a preview or a taste for you?

JOSUE DE PAULA: I feel like it just gave me a taste of how focused these guys are in postseason and how serious they take it. Yeah, everybody was locked in yesterday. Everybody did their thing. I was super excited to see all those guys hit all those homers. That was crazy yesterday. I was just living in the moment. I was just having fun. It was awesome to see that.

Q. Where did you watch the playoffs last year? Did you watch every single game? What was that emotion like for you compared to what was going on yesterday?

JOSUE DE PAULA: I believe I was watching it, if I'm not mistaken, probably in Miami. I was in Miami watching those games, and just to see it in person, I just feel like you can't replicate it anywhere else. Seeing it on TV and being here is two different worlds. Yeah, like I said, I'm getting used to it.

Q. You mentioned a little bit about the impression you've made on Dave and Andrew, kind of the confidence they have in you in such a short amount of time. What does that mean to you to have built that level of trust this early on?

JOSUE DE PAULA: To have somebody like that, those two people to have so much confidence in me, it just kind of gives me extra confidence. Obviously I feel like I have a lot of confidence in myself to go out there and handle business, but to have those guys backing me, it's like, oh, yeah, let's get it started. Let's fight.

Q. Are you going to limit yourself to one walk-up song for the postseason?

JOSUE DE PAULA: No (laughter). I'm going to have a couple. I'm going to add one more to it, another Biggie song. I'm a Biggie guy. I've got three right now, so I might add one more.

Q. We've got to be on our toes to pay attention here?

JOSUE DE PAULA: You'll notice when they come on. I'll be singing a little bit.

Q. That being the question, if you only pinch-hit once, how do you pick the walk-up song you're going to use for that?

JOSUE DE PAULA: I guess I'll just choose. Obviously I just go with my feelings. If I probably -- I walk up to one walk-up song the day before, I'm trying to change a little bit, sauce it up a little bit. So I'll just change.

Q. When do you tell them? Do you tell them before the game or call up from the dugout and say, "I want this song"?

JOSUE DE PAULA: I tell them before the game.

Q. What's more nerve-racking, being in that seat or being in the batter's box?

JOSUE DE PAULA: I don't feel like it's nerve-racking, you know what I'm saying? I'm just talking with people. We're all people at the end of the day. And I love being in the batter's box. I love competing. It's not really nerve-racking. It's normal.