This story was excerpted from Juan Toribio’s Dodgers Beat publication. To learn the total publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it recurrently in your inbox.
LOS ANGELES — With the Dodgers beginning the season with two video games in Seoul, South Korea, towards the Padres, they’re set to reach at Camelback Ranch in lower than 4 weeks to organize for the now much-anticipated 2024 season.
Earlier than that occurs, nonetheless, we’ll take an in-depth, position-by-position have a look at the Dodgers and the way they’ll look in ‘24.
We’ll preserve the previews rolling with the outfielders.
The starters: Teoscar Hernández, James Outman
Even after buying Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers went into the remainder of the offseason realizing they wanted to get extra assist in the outfield. With Mookie Betts now a full-time second baseman, the Dodgers sought a right-handed-hitting outfielder.
Initially of the offseason, Hernández was anticipating to get a profitable multi-year deal. That by no means got here and the Dodgers took benefit of the chance, signing him to a one-year, $23.5 million deal. The Dodgers love Hernández’s capability to hit left-handers, however he’ll be an on a regular basis participant, no matter pitcher handedness. He’ll play left and proper discipline relying on the matchup.
In heart, Outman earned the beginning job final spring and by no means seemed again. Even with a two-month hunch in the midst of the season, Outman was one of many vibrant spots in ‘23. Coming into his sophomore season, he’ll proceed to get the alternatives in heart discipline. Outman was stable towards left-handed pitching and proved sufficient to get extra constant at-bats towards southpaws.
The platoon choices: Jason Heyward, Manuel Margot
Heyward revived his profession final season with the Dodgers, and he did it as a result of his capability to hit right-handed pitching. The veteran outfielder was an ideal match within the clubhouse and was rapidly introduced again on a one-year deal for ‘24. With Betts at second, Heyward will proceed to be the crew’s proper fielder towards southpaws.
Margot, alternatively, will largely play towards left-handers, however the extent of his enjoying time can be one thing to observe going into the season. He’s a stable defender in all three outfield spots, which can clear the way in which for him to make an impression subsequent season.
Who backs them up?: Chris Taylor
As we mentioned within the infield preview, Taylor will doubtless slot again into his super-utility function that has made him an integral a part of the roster the previous couple of seasons. Taylor will get a while within the infield, however he can be a dependable left fielder each time the Dodgers want him.
Down on the farm: Andy Pages, Jose Ramos
There’s not a lot huge league-ready assist in the farm system. Pages would’ve been an possibility had he performed final season, however the Cuban outfielder missed your entire yr after tearing his proper labrum. Pages will doubtless begin the season in both Double-A Tulsa or Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis, however he doubtless gained’t make his debut till not less than the 2025 season. He’s a really proficient hitter, nonetheless, so he may shock.
Ramos wasn’t protected earlier than the Rule 5 Draft, however went unselected as soon as once more. The Panamanian outfielder has proven huge energy all through the Minors, hitting 57 homers in his 4 professional seasons, however huge strikeout numbers have prevented him from changing into one of the vital polished hitters within the Minors. Like Pages, he’s not anticipated to be prepared for The Present this season.
Given the dearth of depth within the outfield, count on the Dodgers to proceed to work the telephones to try to usher in veteran items on Minor League offers that would function choices later within the season.
