James Outman impressed as a rookie last year and now he’s representing the Los Angeles Dodgers on the list of MLB Top-10 Center Fielders Right Now heading into the 2024 season.
The Shredder ranked Outman as the sixth-best center fielder, while MLB Network analyst Mike Petriello had him seventh and he placed eighth on Vince Gennaro’s list.
The Shredder is a statistical model that places emphasis on WAR, wRC+ and Statcast metrics to compile annual rankings. The model focuses on a three-year sample with performance in the previous season weighted more heavily in the calculations.
Although Outman only appeared in four games in 2022, he is fifth-best among all center fielders with a 123 wRC+ since the start of that season (minimum 500 plate appearances). Last season he ranked in the top seven among all center fielders in home runs and on-base percentage (minimum 300 plate appearances).
Outman’s presence played a large part in the Dodgers’ decision to non-tender Cody Bellinger after the 2022 season and hand the starting job in center field to their rookie.
Outman endured some growing pains but hit .248/.353/.437 with 16 doubles, three triples, 23 home runs and 70 RBI over 151 games. He also added 16 stolen bases, which tied with Chris Taylor for second on the Dodgers.
Outman earned National League Rookie of the Month honors for his performances in April and August. He also finished third for the 2023 NL Rookie of the Year Award, which was unanimously won by Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll.
“Obviously we’ve talked about the Rookie of the Month and then he slid for two months there, but if you look at the month of August, he’s getting on base close to 50% of the time, driving in runs, taking good at-bats and it’s a 1.000 OPS,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said last season.
“For me, left-handed or right-handed, he’s just taking a consistent at-bat with hard contact. We talked a few weeks ago that I no longer look at him as a rookie. I look at him as a Major League player. He’s playing to that level right now.”
Among qualified rookies, Outman ranked third in runs scored (86) and WAR (4.4), sixth in home runs and RBI, ninth in walk percentage (12%) and tied for 13th in wRC+ (118).
Bobby Miller and Outman both received pre-arbitration bonuses for their respective 2023 seasons.
MLB Top-10 Center Fielders Right Now for 2024
| Rank | The Shredder | Mike Petriello | Vince Gennaro | Sarah Langs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Judge (Yankees) | Julio Rodríguez (Mariners) | Aaron Judge (Yankees) | Aaron Judge (Yankees) |
| 2 | Julio Rodríguez (Mariners) | Aaron Judge (Yankees) | Julio Rodríguez (Mariners) | Mike Trout (Angels) |
| 3 | Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox) | Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox) | Mike Trout (Angels) | Cody Bellinger (free agent) |
| 4 | Mike Trout (Angels) | Mike Trout (Angels) | Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox) | Julio Rodríguez (Mariners) |
| 5 | Michael Harris II (Braves) | Michael Harris II (Braves) | Michael Harris II (Braves) | Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox) |
| 6 | James Outman (Dodgers) | Cody Bellinger (free agent) | Cody Bellinger (free agent) | Jung-hoo Lee (Giants) |
| 7 | Byron Buxton (Twins) | James Outman (Dodgers) | Brandon Marsh (Phillies) | Brandon Marsh (Phillies) |
| 8 | Cedric Mullins (Orioles) | Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Marlins) | Jarren Duran (Red Sox) | James Outman (Dodgers) |
| 9 | TJ Friedl (Reds) | Brandon Marsh (Phillies) | Jack Suwinski (Pirates) | Michael Harris II (Braves) |
| 10 | Brandon Marsh (Phillies) | Jung-hoo Lee (Giants) | Jung-hoo Lee (Giants) | Jarren Duran (Red Sox) |
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