The Dodgers’ number 27 prospect is James Outman, a 24-year-old outfielder. Standing 6’3 weighing 215 pounds, he is a left-handed hitter who throws right-handed. Outman was drafted in 2018 as a 7th round pick. James has split time this year between A+ and AA.
With the Great Lake Loons, he was hitting .250 with 9 homeruns and 30 RBIs in 248 ABs. The Dodgers wanted to test Outman, so they called him up to the AA Tulsa Drillers. In 36 ABs, he is currently hitting .306 with 1 homerun and 11 RBIs. James’ problem is he has way too many swings and misses. James has a strikeout percentage of 35.5 and 30.5 in A+ and AA respectively.
Outman is built like an outside wide receiver in the NFL. He has raw power because of his size but he doesn’t make enough consistent contact to put that advantage to use. His long strong strides in the outfield make up for his average route running. James has great instincts and strong arm with great accuracy which makes him well suited to center field, where he spends most of his defensive time. Outman has good speed and his ability to read the pitcher’s first move make him a base-stealing threat. The speed he is a plus, but as he ages, it will likely become just average.
James Outman is expected to be called up to the MLB Dodgers in 2022, but this will not happen unless he is consistently hitting the ball for average. If he can do that plus keep his power, he can be a solid bench piece for the Los Angeles Dodgers.