James Outman
Outman came up to the big leagues for a four-game stint in the middle of the 2022 season and looked very impressive. With the Dodgers moving on from Cody Bellinger this offseason, Outman looked like a prime candidate for a breakout year if he could crack the lineup with a strong Spring Training performance. Outman had some lofty expectations for a minor leaguer considering how well he played with the Dodgers last season (posting a 1.409 OPS in his 16 major league plate appearances), but he has more than reached those expectations.
Outman is hitting .265 with an .895 OPS with a double, a triple, two homers and eight RBI. The one knock on Outman is his tendency to swing and miss. Although he has struggled recently, Outman has still remained one of the Dodgers' top hitters this spring. Those numbers, in spite of the recent slump, might be enough to land Outman on the Opening Day lineup, especially given the struggles of veteran outfielders Chris Taylor and Jayson Heyward.