Josue De Paula Parents: Meet the Family Behind the Dodgers Young Star

Josue De Paula’s parents, Josue De Paula Brito Sr. and Joy Sanders, played a major role in turning their son’s baseball dream into a professional career. Long before he became one of the most exciting young players in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, De Paula was a Brooklyn kid whose baseball development suddenly became uncertain when the pandemic interrupted school, sports and normal life.

Instead of allowing those circumstances to slow him down, his family made a life-changing decision. They relocated to the Dominican Republic while De Paula was still a teenager, giving him the chance to train in a baseball environment where the sport could become part of his daily routine.

That decision eventually helped put De Paula on a path from Brooklyn to professional baseball and, ultimately, the major leagues.

Who Are Josue De Paula’s Parents?

Josue De Paula’s parents are Josue De Paula Brito Sr. and Joy Sanders. Although they have generally stayed away from the attention surrounding their son, their influence has been an important part of his story.

De Paula was born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 24, 2005. His father is originally from the Dominican Republic, giving Josue a family connection to a country where baseball holds enormous cultural importance.

Growing up in New York, however, De Paula’s childhood experience was different from that of many Dominican prospects who begin training in specialized baseball academies at a young age.

He attended school in Brooklyn and developed as a player there. Baseball was important, but New York weather also meant there were limits to how much organized outdoor baseball he could play throughout the year.

Everything changed when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his freshman year of high school.

Virtual education became normal, organized baseball opportunities became limited, and the family started considering whether remaining in Brooklyn was the best option for his development.

His parents ultimately decided it was time to make a major change.

Why His Parents Moved the Family to the Dominican Republic

Josue De Paula Brito Sr. and Joy Sanders moved with their son to Santo Domingo when Josue was about 15 years old.

The move was centered heavily on baseball. De Paula enrolled at El Niche Baseball Academy, where he could train regularly and compete against young players who had been preparing for professional baseball opportunities for years.

For his father, the Dominican Republic was familiar territory. For Josue, the adjustment was much more complicated.

Although he had grown up hearing about his father’s Dominican background, De Paula was still a teenager from Brooklyn entering a different culture and baseball system. His Spanish was limited, and he suddenly found himself surrounded by players who trained almost every day.

There was another major difference. Baseball could be played throughout the year.

New York winters had naturally limited De Paula’s baseball calendar. Santo Domingo offered an environment where he could continue developing without the same seasonal interruption.

The family’s decision required more than simply enrolling him at an academy. It meant changing countries and restructuring daily life around the possibility that their son could eventually become a professional baseball player.

His Father’s Influence on His Baseball Journey

Josue De Paula Sr. appears to have been particularly important during one of the biggest turning points in his son’s development.

When baseball opportunities disappeared during the pandemic, it was his father who helped introduce the possibility of continuing the journey in the Dominican Republic. The idea eventually gave the young outfielder access to a much more intense training environment.

Their relationship was visible during De Paula’s memorable appearance in the 2025 All-Star Futures Game.

De Paula hit a three-run home run that helped him earn Futures Game MVP honors. His father was watching in person, which made the moment especially meaningful because the demands of professional baseball often prevented him from attending his son’s games.

After crossing home plate, De Paula acknowledged his father in the crowd. He later spoke about the pride he felt representing both of his parents.

For a player whose development required his family to make such a significant move during his teenage years, the moment carried a deeper meaning than another award or home run.

Josue De Paula Comes From an Athletic Family

De Paula’s connection to high-level professional sports extends beyond baseball.

He is the second cousin of former NBA guards Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair, two well-known basketball players who also came from New York.

Marbury built a long NBA career after becoming one of the most highly regarded high school basketball players of his era. Telfair was another famous Brooklyn basketball prospect who jumped directly from high school into the NBA.

De Paula chose a different sport, but the family connection is interesting considering all three reached elite professional levels.

His official baseball biography confirms his relationship to Marbury and Telfair, adding another dimension to a family already closely associated with competitive sports.

How the Dominican Republic Changed His Career

The move eventually produced exactly the type of opportunity De Paula and his parents hoped it would.

While training at El Niche Baseball Academy in Santo Domingo, De Paula developed into an international prospect. The Dodgers signed him in January 2022 for a reported $397,500 signing bonus when he was only 16.

He began his professional career in the Dominican Summer League and quickly showed why Los Angeles had invested in him.

His development continued through Rancho Cucamonga, Great Lakes and Double-A Tulsa. His combination of a smooth left-handed swing, advanced understanding of the strike zone and developing power gradually moved him toward the top of prospect rankings.

By 2026, the Dodgers considered De Paula one of the most important young hitters in their organization.

His breakout season with Double-A Tulsa accelerated everything. De Paula hit .303 with a .401 on-base percentage and .547 slugging percentage while producing 27 home runs and 104 RBIs before Los Angeles made the unusual decision to promote him directly from Double-A to the majors.

He officially made his MLB debut for the Dodgers on September 11, 2026, at just 21 years old.

Josue De Paula’s Family Remains Part of His Story

The story behind Josue De Paula’s parents is ultimately about much more than their names.

Josue De Paula Brito Sr. and Joy Sanders recognized that their son needed a different baseball environment during a difficult period and were willing to make a major family change to provide it.

Moving from Brooklyn to Santo Domingo forced De Paula to adjust to another culture, improve his Spanish and compete against players who had spent much of their childhood preparing for professional baseball.

Those experiences helped shape the player who eventually entered the Dodgers system.

Now that De Paula has reached Major League Baseball, the family decision made when he was only a teenager looks like one of the defining moments of his journey.

His talent made professional baseball possible, but the support and sacrifices behind that talent were equally important. From Brooklyn to the Dominican Republic and eventually Los Angeles, De Paula’s rise has remained closely connected to the family that helped him take his biggest opportunity seriously.