One Month In, Dodgers' James Outman is the Clear NL Rookie of the Year Frontrunner
One of the biggest bright spots in the first month of the 2023 season for the Los Angeles Dodgers has, without a doubt, been James Outman.
For someone that really only made the final roster due to some big injuries in Spring Training, it is amazing to see how he's surpassed every expectation for him thus far. He is currently slashing .283/.377/.596 and has connected on 7 home runs already, which is second-best on LA right only behind Max Muncy.
He leads all qualified rookies with a .973 OPS and leads NL rookies with 20 runs batted in.
The 25-year-old outfielder is also third on the roster in batting average, behind only Freddie Freeman and Will Smith.
All eyes were on Miguel Vargas to be the player to make a huge impact in his first full year in the big league but it has now been Outman to step into that role.
You really do love to see it. Essentially everyone was writing off the Dodgers and saying the division was finally theirs to lose due to not enough experience in the clubhouse anymore. However, this play from Outman is quieting a lot of people that said that.
Oh yeah... he is also being slated as the current favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year thanks to leading every other candidate in the major hitting stats.
Outman's recent tear has given him clear early separation, though the key word in that declaration is "early."
Outman's four homers and nine RBIs in three days at Wrigley Field last week accelerated what was already a strong start for a player who wasn't guaranteed a regular spot when spring training began. ... Outman leads rookie NL hitters in just about every major hitting category.
The Dodgers have featured 14 Rookie of the Year winners since 1960 but haven't had once since Cody Bellinger in 2017.
It's looking like that time ladies and gentlemen. James Outman is BUILT for the big stage. And we should see him take home some
