Inside The Dodgers

Dodgers Summon Outfielder From Triple-A as Teoscar Hernandez Decision Looms

J.P. Hoornstra|
Feb 19, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17), center, stands next to center fielder James Outman (33) during batting practice at spring training at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Feb 19, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17), center, stands next to center fielder James Outman (33) during batting practice at spring training at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have not formally announced whether or not outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who suffered a hamstring injury Monday night in Miami, will be placed on the 10-day injured list.

Just as manager Dave Roberts suggested after the Dodgers' 7-4 win, however, outfielder James Outman has arrived from Triple-A Oklahoma City for a possible promotion. Outman is on the taxi squad as of now, pending a formal IL move.

Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times was the first to report Outman's arrival on Twitter/X on Tuesday.

The Dodgers will hope an MRI on Hernandez's hamstring doesn’t reveal anything that would require an IL stint. But if Hernandez does end up on the injured list, Outman appears to be the first man up.

Outman slashed .147/.256/.265 in 53 games with the Dodgers last season. He was optioned to Oklahoma City March 20 after slashing .207/.333/.483 in spring training.

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In 32 games with the Comets, Outman slashed .254/.322/.508 with eight home runs, 27 RBIs, and five stolen bases in seven attempts.

Outman was a finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year Award after seizing the Dodgers' primary center field job in 2013. He finished that season with a .248/.353/.437 slash line, 23 home runs, 70 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 19 attempts.

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But Outman's proclivity to swing and miss ultimately limited his playing time last year. In a concerning development this season at Triple-A, Outman struck out in 40.8 percent of his at-bats, up from 30.6 strikeout rate in 69 Triple-A games a year ago.

The Dodgers already made one roster move ahead of Tuesday's game against the Marlins at loanDepot park.

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Yoendrys Gomez, who made only three appearances out of the Dodgers' bullpen after he was selected off waivers from the New York Yankees, was designated for assignment. J.P. Feyereisen was promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma City, giving the Dodgers a fresh bullpen arm.

Hernández was leading MLB with 34 RBIs at the time of his injury. Losing him for any period of time would be a blow to the Dodgers — and a potential opportunity for Outman to revive his career.

In 208 major league games, Outman has a .231 batting average, .337 on-base percentage, and .408 slugging percentage.

Even if the Dodgers add Outman to their active roster Tuesday, it's early to say who will take the lion's share of Hernández's at-bats and innings. Chris Taylor moved into center field, and Andy Pages took over in right field, after Hernández exited Monday's game against the Marlins.

For more Dodgers news, visit Dodgers on SI.

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J.P. Hoornstra
J.P. HOORNSTRA

J.P. Hoornstra is an On SI Contributor. A veteran of 20 years of sports coverage for daily newspapers in California, J.P. covered MLB, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Los Angeles Angels (occasionally of Anaheim) from 2012-23 for the Southern California News Group. His first book, The 50 Greatest Dodgers Games of All-Time, published in 2015. In 2016, he won an Associated Press Sports Editors award for breaking news coverage. He once recorded a keyboard solo on the same album as two of the original Doors.

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