In a series of roster maneuvers announced by the Los Angeles Dodgers, outfielder James Outman has been sent down to Triple-A, as the team navigates through injuries and form fluctuations among its players.
The Dodgers are also making adjustments to their lineup due to injury concerns, placing third baseman Max Muncy on the injured list (IL) due to a right oblique strain. At the same time, they’ve activated outfielder Jason Heyward from the IL and have called up infielder Miguel Vargas to fill the gaps.
James Outman, who had a standout rookie season in 2023, being a contender for the NL Rookie of the Year with an impressive .790 OPS, 23 homers, and 70 RBIs over 151 games, finds himself struggling at the beginning of this season. The 27-year-old’s performance has dipped significantly, with his numbers falling to a .147 batting average, .250 on-base percentage, and .266 slugging percentage, alongside three home runs and 10 RBIs in 109 at-bats.
Max Muncy, who has demonstrated his power with nine home runs and 28 RBIs through 40 games this season, suffered an injury during batting practice before Thursday night’s game, as noted by manager Dave Roberts. In Muncy’s absence, the Dodgers will have Enrique Hernández fill in at the third base position in Friday’s game.
Returning from injury, Jason Heyward is set to make an immediate impact, placed eighth in the batting order and covering the right field in the game against the Cincinnati Reds. Heyward’s season has been limited due to a back injury he sustained in late March, restricting him to just four games so far.
Miguel Vargas, on the other hand, has been showcasing his potential in Triple-A. The 24-year-old has been impressive, with a 1.019 OPS, eight home runs, 14 doubles, and 38 RBIs across 39 games, making a strong case for his call-up to the major league roster.
These roster moves by the Dodgers reflect the team’s efforts to manage their player health issues and performance dips, as they continue to make strategic decisions throughout the season.
