Dodgers fans are already overreacting to Jack Suwinski’s spring power surge

There is one certainty in spring training: there is always going to be a fringe player who stands out and immediately makes fans fall in love with him. Even for a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers, a roster littered with superstars, fans can't help but notice the spring training power surge from former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jack Suwinski.

The Dodgers claimed Suwinski off waivers at the start of spring training, ensuring they have capable outfield depth during the regular season. Barring injury, it didn't appear that Suwinski had much of a chance of making Los Angeles' Opening Day roster, which is why he has already been outrighted off the 40-man.

Given the flexibility around roster rules during spring training, Suwinski is eligible to play in spring training games with the big league team. He made his Dodgers debut over the weekend, hitting a home run in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Chicago Cubs, and he did so again on Tuesday night against the Kansas City Royals.

Hitting two home runs in his first two games with the Dodgers is going to get Suwinski noticed. Pirates fans think that the Dodgers may be the team to finally unlock his power approach, while Dodgers fans are already claiming that the team has struck gold again.

To quote a quarterback that Pittsburgh spots fans should be familiar with, R-E-L-A-X. Congrats to Suwinski for his early spring training success, but there's no need to jump the shark with the bit. It's a fun spring training story, nothing more than that.

Jack Suwinski's spring training power surge is a cool story, but Los Angeles Dodgers fans shouldn't be fooled.

First and foremost, it's only been two games. Not to mention, one of those games was against the Chicago Cubs. If Suwinski has done one thing right over the course of his career, it's mashing against the Cubs. He has seven career home runs against the Cubs, the most of any team he's played against.

Beyond that, Suwinski's last two years with the Pirates should tell Dodgers fans all they need to know, hitting under .200 in each season while striking out 28.5% of the time in 2024 and 32% of the time in 2025. He also only has 12 home runs in that timespan.

No, the Dodgers are not going to reverse course with the decision they've already made. Suwinski belongs in the minor leagues, and once Opening Day arrives next week, we can all forget about him.