GLENDALE, Ariz. — The jump from Year One to Year Two shouldn’t be too daunting for James Outman considering the strides he made as a rookie.
Outman came to spring training a year ago as just one of a handful of left-handed hitting outfielders hoping to find a way to make the roster. When Gavin Lux suffered his season-ending knee injury, the trickle-down effect created an opening and Outman claimed it. He took off from there, establishing himself as the Dodgers’ primary center fielder and finishing third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.
“It’s still the same game. The focus is just a little different,” Outman said of his approach to his second season. “Now I’m trying to fine-tune, get better as opposed to ‘I need to play well to make a team.’ Other than that it’s the same game. I’m treating it the same way. Trying to. Just putting the attention in different areas.”
Outman’s game was not the same from start to finish last year, particularly defensively. Working extensively with Clayton McCullough, Outman improved tremendously in center field as the season progressed.
“I think that was more a matter of just being able to relax and get comfortable out there because I’ve always felt I was a good defender,” Outman said. “I just felt the stress and the anticipation and all that made me tense up a little bit.”
His offense as a rookie was more of a roller-coaster ride. He was named NL Rookie of the Month in April and again in August and posted a .904 OPS in July as well. But he slumped significantly in May (.165 batting average, .552 OPS) and through June (.a 551 OPS with no home runs).
“I don’t think any player wants to be streaky,” Outman said. “But I do know that I can get hot.
“I think more experience under your belt (leads to more consistent results). I think having a better relationship with the coaches – them knowing me better, me knowing them better – creates better dialogue so that we can work together better. … Now that I have a fulll year under my belt, the relationship is just a lot stronger.”
One thing was consistent – the strikeouts piled up. Outman finished the season sixth in the majors, fourth in the NL with 181 strikeouts. But like his defense, his plate discipline, also improved as the season progressed. He walked 42 times in 68 games after the All-Star break after walking just 26 times in 83 games before the break.
“I think if every player had the answer to consistency they would tap into that,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Outman’s hot-and-cold offense. “Yeah, there’s some swing-and-miss in there. But I think even when he was struggling he was still getting on base. So, for me, that’s what we need from him. And the defense didn’t waver even at times when he was struggling offensively.”
Outman had a .665 OPS against left-handed pitching as a rookie with just one of his 23 home runs. He still started 34 of the 49 games when the Dodgers faced a left-handed starter, the team not spelling him against lefties until Kiké Hernandez arrived at the trade deadline.
Hernandez is back this year after re-signing for one year and $4 million earlier this week. The super-utility player figures to be in the lineup against left-handed pitching. But Roberts said Hernandez was not acquired to be a platoon partner for Outman.
“No, not at all,” Roberts said. “James is still going to play against lefties, not all lefties. I don’t expect him to play all 162 games. With Kiké, I don’t think it really affects James. He’s going to play some short, some third and some center and maybe some second base too at different times.”
KERSHAW IN CAMP
Rehabbing left-hander Clayton Kershaw rejoined the Dodgers in camp on Friday. Kershaw is still in the early stages of a throwing program after undergoing shoulder surgery last November.
“The shoulder you can tell is healed. It feels good,” Kershaw said on SportsNet LA. “First surgery, first rehab process – I don’t really know what to expect. Thankfully, these guys (on the training staff) do so that’s good.”
Kershaw is expected to be in camp until the Dodgers leave for South Korea on March 14 then continue his rehab at home in Texas. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has said he plans to be at the Dodgers’ home opener on March 28 and then will be with the team for most homestands until his rehab reaches the stage where he is ready to face hitters. The veteran left-hander said he hopes to be ready to pitch in “July-ish, August-ish.”
ONCE A WEEK
Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his Cactus League debut on Wednesday and is scheduled to make his second start this Wednesday. Roberts said it’s “probably fair” to expect Yamamoto to pitch once a week leading up to the Korea Series, where he is expected to pitch one of the two regular-season games against the San Diego Padres.
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“I think it’s gonna be (every) six, seven or eight days, depending on travel and things like that,” Roberts said. “But I think once a week is sort of – it’s a safe bet.”
The Dodgers have six days between the end of the Korea series and their home opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 28. Yamamoto has been accustomed to pitching once a week in Japan.
ALSO
Third baseman Max Muncy fully participated in the Dodgers’ workout Friday and is expected to be back in the lineup for Cactus League games Saturday and Sunday. Muncy was hit in the left hand by a pitch during the game on Wednesday. …
Right-hander Emmet Sheehan said he is scheduled to resume throwing on Saturday. Sheehan was shut down for about a week after developing shoulder soreness following his bullpen sessions earlier in camp.