Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explains emergence of surprising newcomer

Surprising rookie outfielder James Outman is turning heads early for the Los Angeles Dodgers. A day after posting another impressive outing, including a grand slam, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shared the secret to Outman's success with reporters. 

"James is earning good pitches in the strike zone because he's done a great job of laying off pitches out of the strike zone," Roberts said via SportsNet L.A. "And the next most important part is to move it forward and hit it hard, and he's doing that, I would say, better than anyone on our ballclub." 

Showing patience at the dish while staying ready to punish mistakes is a common theme preached to hitters. Roberts prefaced his praise of Outman, confirming that advice isn't always easy to follow and can be even harder to execute, especially for a young player. 

The fact that Outman, still in the infancy of his MLB career, is following that advice and capitalizing on it successfully has him in the early conversation for National League Rookie of the Year. 

Entering play Friday, Outman is riding a four-game hitting streak, going 6-for-16 with a double, two home runs and five RBI over that stretch.