Dodgers' James Outman: Likely to get ample playing time
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Outman should play often with Chris Taylor expected to begin the regular season facing mostly left-handed pitchers, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Early this spring, Taylor was considered the favorite to be the Dodgers' primary center fielder, but his continued struggles to make contact during the exhibition slate along with a need for him to spend more time at shortstop due to Gavin Lux's season-ending knee injury has shifted that narrative. Outman is now likely to see the most starts in center among Los Angeles' various options, a role he has earned with an excellent showing this spring that includes a .300/.390/.600 slash line, three homers and 11 RBI. Meanwhile, Taylor appears lined up to play more of a platoon role against lefties, at least at the start of the season.
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Dodgers' James Outman: Will be on Opening Day roster
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Thursday that Outman has made the Opening Day roster, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Outman might not get enough starts out of the gate to offer immediate fantasy relevance, but he's certainly a name to keep on watch lists as the season plays out. The 25-year-old outfielder slashed .294/.393/.586 with 31 home runs and 13 stolen bases in 125 games last summer between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, and he also went 6-for-13 during a short stint with Los Angeles between late July and early August in his first taste of the big leagues.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts implied Saturday that there's a chance Outman could make the Opening Day roster, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Roberts calls Outman "big-league ready", but said "how [the Dodgers] shake out is a different question." The outfielder has performed well over the Cactus League season, and homered for the second time this spring on Saturday. Even if the 25-year-old makes the roster, he won't be guaranteed significant playing time, but he's a name to monitor in deeper fantasy leagues and is talented enough to consider in keeper and dynasty formats.
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Dodgers' James Outman: Boosting roster chances this spring
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Outman has gone 6-for-13 with a triple, a home run, three runs, four RBI and a 2:3 BB:K through 17 Cactus League plate appearances.
Outman showed well in a brief cup of coffee with the Dodgers last season, going 6-for-13 with a pair of doubles, a homer and three RBI over four contests, though he also struck out seven times. His stat line so far this spring is eerily similar, with the notable exception that he's fanning less often. Both sample sizes are admittedly small, but with Los Angeles parting ways with Cody Bellinger in the offseason and recently announcing that Chris Taylor will play more shortstop due to Gavin Lux's season-ending knee injury, there may be room for Outman on the Opening Day roster. In terms of fantasy, he's ascending up dynasty ranks and could be an impactful player in all formats as soon as this season if he's able to secure substantial playing time with the big-league club.
Dodgers' James Outman: Finishes season with flourish
Rotowire
In his final 16 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Outman slashed .313/.405/.672 with six home runs, 12 RBI, 15 runs and a stolen base.
Outman's strong finish put the finishing touches on a breakthrough campaign during which he slashed .294/.392/.586 with 31 homers, 106 RBI, 101 runs and 13 stolen bases over 125 contests between Double-A and Triple-A. Among the highlights was a four-game stretch in late August during which the 25-year-old twice hit for the cycle. Of course, Outman's greatest achievement this season was getting his first major-league callup -- he impressed during his time with the big-league club, slashing .462/.563/.846 with a home run and three RBI over 16 plate appearances (albeit with a 43.8 percent strikeout rate). Outman's excellent season has created the possibility that he could play a significant role on the major-league team as soon as next season.
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Dodgers' James Outman: Hits for cycle in Triple-A
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Outman went 5-for-5 with a double, two triples, a home run and six RBI for Triple-A Oklahoma City in a win over El Paso on Friday.
Outman not only hit for OKC's first cycle in more than 11 years, he also launched a walkoff home run. The 25-year-old is in the midst of his finest minor-league campaign, slashing .286/.387/.566 with 23 homers, 84 RBI and 12 stolen bases between Double-A and Triple-A. He has a lot of swing-and-miss in his game, but he was productive in a four-game stint in the majors several weeks ago and could get another call-up late in the season.
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Dodgers' James Outman: Optioned to Triple-A
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Outman was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
He hit .462 with seven strikeouts and one home run in four games (13 at-bats) during his first career cup of coffee in the majors. Outman has impressive athleticism, but his hit tool is suspect.
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Dodgers' James Outman: Draws another start
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Outman will start in left field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Giants, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Outman will be getting his third start in the corner outfield in four games after he began his big-league career by going 5-for-6 with a home run, two doubles and a walk. Though his hot bat has earned him more work early on than expected, the Dodgers likely aren't counting on Outman playing well enough to stick as a near-everyday player. Instead, the newly acquired Joey Gallo and Trayce Thompson are likely settle into a platoon at the corner-outfield spot opposite Mookie Betts, at least until Chris Taylor (foot) is ready to come off the injured list.
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Dodgers' James Outman: Fantastic in debut
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Outman went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, three total RBI and two total runs scored in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Rockies.
Outman's debut was a dazzler, and it began when he went yard in his first big-league at-bat. He added a single in the seventh inning and an RBI double in the eighth. The 25-year-old isn't considered a highly rated prospect, but he did alright in 22 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City after a midseason promotion, posting a .225 batting average and .815 OPS with five home runs, 24 RBI, 13 runs scored and four stolen bases. Outman will likely be limited to the occasional start versus right-handed pitchers, though more performances like his debut could bring him a corresponding boost in playing time while Chris Taylor (foot) works through a rehab assignment in the coming week.
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Dodgers' James Outman: Joining big club
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Outman was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
A 25-year-old athletic outfielder, Outman has a .279/.381/.534 slash line with a 28.5 percent strikeout rate and 12.6 percent walk rate in 404 plate appearances split between Double-A and Triple-A this year. He takes the place of Zach McKinstry, who was shipped to the Cubs in exchange for reliever Chris Martin. Outman will serve as a lefty bench bat, defensive replacement and occasional starter.
The Dodgers promoted Outman from Double-A Tulsa to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
Outman received the bump up to the Dodgers' top affiliate after slashing .297/.397/.556 with 16 home runs and seven stolen bases across 305 plate appearances at Tulsa. The 25-year-old possesses a spot on the Dodgers' 40-man roster, so he could be a candidate to join the big club later in the season if he continues to perform well at Triple-A and if Los Angeles has a need for an extra outfielder.
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Dodgers' James Outman: Added to 40-man roster
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Outman was added to the Dodgers' 40-man roster Friday, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
A 24-year-old outfielder with a nice blend of power, speed and defense, Outman hit .289/.369/.518 with nine home runs and two steals in 39 games at Double-A to close the year. He should spend most, if not all of next season in the upper levels of the minors.
