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. 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. 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.
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. Although he has improved—batting .214 with a .824 OPS in camp—his strikeout rate remains alarmingly high. With the Dodgers looking to solidify their outfield, Andy Pages appears to have the upper hand after outperforming Outman last year.
Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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. “He just doesn’t look as comfortable,” Roberts said.
Defensive skills remain a strength, and the Dodgers’ center-field uncertainty could have worked in his favor.
However, with Hyeseong Kim starting the season in the minors and Tommy Edman potentially shifting to second base, Kiké Hernández and Chris Taylor will likely share center-field duties. 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.
But unless he can drastically cut down on strikeouts and make consistent contact, a return to Triple-A to start the season seems inevitable.
The wait continues to see if the former top prospect can rediscover his form and prove he belongs on the Dodgers’ big-league roster.
