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Dodgers make Opening Day roster decisions in outfield
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Thursday that outfielders Jason Heyward and James Outman will make their Opening Day roster.
The decisions, which were relayed to the media by manager Dave Roberts, round out the position player side of the club's 26-man roster.
Outman ranks as the Dodgers’ No. 9 prospect. He made his MLB debut last fall and showed out well during his limited playing time, when he went 6-for-13 with two doubles.
The 25-year-old outfielder has been crushing it in spring training, slashing .268/.354/.512 with two home runs, two doubles, a triple and a stolen base. Outman provides a solid lefty bat and could see himself splitting time with Trayce Thompson in center field during the coming season.
James Outman finds the gap!
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 23, 2023
Chris Taylor scores from first. ♂️ pic.twitter.com/bNyYebHZPN
For his part, Heyward will likely serve as a lefty bat off the bench while providing the glove to serve as a defensive replacement late in games. The 33-year-old veteran started off the spring hot, slashing .333/.429/.833 with a pair of homers in the team’s first four games. Since then his bat cooled to the tune of a 5-for-33 stretch.
With Outman and Heyward earning spots for Opening Day, half the Dodgers' roster is locked in at this juncture.
Freddie Freeman, Miguel Vargas, Max Muncy and Miguel Rojas will make up the infield. Will Smith and Austin Barnes will work behind the plate. Outman and Heyward will be outfield options along with Mookie Betts, David Peralta, Trayce Thompson and utility player, Chris Taylor.
The Dodgers only have a week remaining to make a decision on their final three roster spots before they match up with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Opening Day.
More must-reads:
- Los Angeles Dodgers offseason reviewed
- Forbes: Yankees now worth $7.1B; Dodgers No. 2
- The 'MLB MVPs to only play for one team' quiz
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