Freshly named to the Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day roster for the 2023 season, James Outman is sporting a new jersey number as he looks to carve out a key role with the team.
Outman wore No. 77 with the Dodgers upon making his MLB debut last season and stuck with it through Spring Training. As of Opening Day, however, Outman is now No. 33 with the Dodgers.
The number was last worn by a Dodger last season by pitcher David Price. Scott Van Slyke (2012-2017), Tony Watson (2017) and Breyvic Valera (2018) are among those who recently wore No. 33 with the Dodgers as well.
For Outman, the jersey switch was driven by a relative.
“I had a couple options, and I was asking my whole family,” Outman told DodgerBlue.com “My little cousin was like, ‘You hit pretty good when you have double numbers.’
“In OKC, I was 55 and 77 (with the Dodgers), so I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s great reasoning. Let’s do it.’ That was what sold me the most. Everyone else was saying, ‘Oh, I like 33. I like 33.’ He had a reason for it.”
Outman will surely look toward the No. 33 to provide him with the success that 77 did. In his short stint at the Major League level with Los Angeles last August, the 25-year-old produced an impressive six hits in 13 at-bats, including a historic debut that featured a double, home run and three RBI.
Although his time in the Majors was short-lived, between 60 games with Double-A Tulsa and 57 with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Outman hit a combined .294/.392/.586. With the OKC Dodgers, he collected an impressive 15 home runs with 61 RBI.
James Outman soaked in Opening Day
Outman not only made the roster to begin the season but he was in the Opening Day lineup as well and hit a home run in the Dodgers’ win. The opportunity and experience was one Outman called a “dream come true.”
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
