The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled James Outman from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Saturday’s game against the Colorado Rockies.
Outman was added to the Dodgers 40-man roster during the offseason to protect against potentially being selected in the Rule 5 Draft.
He takes the roster spot of Zach McKinstry, who was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Chris Martin. Because of MLB roster rules, the Dodgers needed to add a position player rather than simply swapping out McKinstry for Martin, which would have given them 14 pitchers.
Outman is in his fourth professional season after being selected by the Dodgers in the seventh round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He is coming off a breakout 2021 campaign with High-A Great Lakes and Double-A Tulsa that saw him bat a combined .266/.379/.490 with 21 doubles, 18 home runs and 54 RBI in 104 games.
Outman then participated in the Arizona Fall League and earned a selection to the Fall Stars Game along with fellow Dodgers prospect Bobby Miller. Outman batted .284/.422/.552 with three home runs and 19 hits in 21 AFL games and enjoyed the opportunity to play against some of the top Minor Leaguers.
He began the 2022 Minor League season with the Drillers, batting .295/.394/.552 with 17 doubles, 16 home runs, 45 RBI and a 139 wRC+ over 68 games. Outman earned a promotion to Oklahoma City at the end of June, and went on to hit .225/.340/.475 with five homers, 24 RBI and a 98 wRC+ through 22 games.
Should Outman appear in a game for the Dodgers, it will represent his Major League debut.
Why did the Dodgers trade Zach McKinstry?
Despite being on the Dodgers’ roster for 39 games this season, McKinstry only appeared in 10. One of McKinstry’s two starts this year came in the series opener against the Colorado Rockies, during which he went hitless but drew two walks and twice scored.
The Dodgers selected McKinstry in the 33rd round of the 2016 MLB Draft. McKinstry made his MLB debut in 2020 and appeared in 74 games over parts of three seasons with L.A.
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