![\"Dodgers](\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/t_share\/MjEzNDY3MjA5ODc4NDgwMzM1\/usatsi_25550601.jpg\")
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James Outman’s decline in 2024 was one of the more disappointing storylines for the Los Angeles Dodgers. A promising young player who finished third in the 2023 Rookie of the Year voting, Outman seemed poised to become a key contributor.<\/p>\n
His offensive struggles last season led to a demotion, and despite multiple call-ups, he failed to regain his form. As the Dodgers finalize their roster for the 2025 season, Outman’s future remains uncertain.<\/p>\n
At the height of his struggles in 2024, he was hitting under .150 by mid-May, forcing the team to send him down to the minors.<\/p>\n
Despite getting additional opportunities later in the season, he couldn’t turn things around, finishing with a dismal .148 batting average and a .541 OPS. Now fighting for a roster spot this spring, he faces stiff competition.<\/p>\n
Although he has improved-batting .214 with a .824 OPS in camp-his strikeout rate remains alarmingly high.<\/p>\n
With the Dodgers looking to solidify their outfield, Andy Pages appears to have the upper hand after outperforming Outman last year.<\/p>\n
Manager Dave Roberts noted Outman’s inconsistency this spring, pointing out that while he initially showed signs of improvement with a revamped swing, he has since reverted to old habits.<\/p>\n
“He just doesn’t look as comfortable,” Roberts said.<\/p>\n
Defensive skills remain a strength, and the Dodgers’ center-field uncertainty could have worked in his favor.<\/p>\n
However, with Hyeseong Kim starting the season in the minors and Tommy Edman potentially shifting to second base, Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez and Chris Taylor will likely share center-field duties.<\/p>\n
That leaves few paths for Outman to make the Opening Day roster. A silver lining is that he will be part of the Dodgers’ 31-man traveling squad to Tokyo for the season-opening series. He might earn another look if he can outperform Pages in those games.<\/p>\n
But unless he can drastically cut down on strikeouts and make consistent contact, a return to Triple-A to start the season seems inevitable.<\/p>\n
The wait continues to see if the former top prospect can rediscover his form and prove he belongs on the Dodgers’ big-league roster.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
James Outman’s decline in 2024 was one of the more disappointing storylines for the Los Angeles Dodgers. A promising young player who finished third in the 2023… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":43271,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43270","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n