LOS ANGELES – It is no secret that rookie years in Major League Baseball can be a grind and a player’s sophomore year in the Show can be even more grueling.
Dodger’s centerfielder James Outman got a taste for four games during the 2022 season. The following year Cody Bellinger left in free agency and signed with the Chicago Cubs leaving centerfield open for the taking. Outman got the full experience in that 2023 season playing in 151 games after claiming his spot in the outfield.
Fans watched his success out of Spring Training and then once the league got a good look at him, Outman had some struggles. The Dodgers gave him a long leash to figure things out at the plate while he continued to play well in centerfield.
Sitting down before a game, James Outman shared his perspective on how it felt to get the call-up to the Big Leagues.
“It was a dream come true. I think it’s every baseball player’s dream and goal to make it to the big leagues. I had the most fun playing last year than I ever had in a really long time. Credit to my teammates and everybody else, but it was a blast. I had a great time.”
He is one of the rare players who came up through the Dodgers farm system, made his debut, and then made a case in Spring Training to make the roster. Outman expanded on what that felt like for him.
“I’m super fortunate for that. I think everybody wants to make it with the team that they get drafted by for the most part. I was stoked. I want to be a Dodger forever so making it up through the minor league gauntlet to the big leagues was really special for me.”
The caliber of any player can be measured in how they handle the ups and downs of the nation’s pastime. Especially, as teams add more statistics and technology to the daily approach for their players, as well as trying to gain any advantage against opposing players.
“It’s tough, I think the only way you can really adjust to it is by experiencing it,” Outman shared. “The pressure is a lot higher in the big leagues and you’re under a much larger microscope. I think the biggest thing is just getting more experience under my belt and learning how to adjust to it through the repetition and through the games.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers are known throughout baseball for their player development through the minors and up into the major league levels. Their players benefit from guidance from skilled trainers and also the experience of veteran players in the clubhouse.
“Again, I’m fortunate for that. I’m glad they gave me a leash. I’m glad I was able to kind of come out of it and see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
As a Bay Area native, Outman grew up rooting for the San Francisco Giants but ultimately became a fan of the sport. This is a common theme among many players across the league. Not every player gets to play for their childhood team.
“I grew up a Giants fan, going to Giants games, and stuff. Then once I got into about high school, I kind of became more of a fan of baseball, in general. I just started liking specific players and if I saw a good game on TV I’d rather watch that. But sure, I’m stoked being a Dodger, I love being a Dodger, and you know, it’s a dream come true.”
For a fan, there is a different feeling being at a game in person versus watching on television. For players, this goes an extra step further playing on one of the largest stages in the game.
Any rookie player experiencing this for the first time will have thoughts on their experience – walking up to home plate for the first time, the roar of the crowd, the nerves as they settle in for their first at-bat. Outman has had a whole season to get more comfortable with this process.
“You become a little bit more numb to it the more you experience it, for sure. I remember the first time I was doing that, it was just really cool. You know, you got this huge stadium around you. The speakers are blaring, the fans are going nuts. It’s a lot. It’s very, very stimulating, that’s for sure.”
All in all, James Outman is rolling with the ups and downs of his sophomore year, and baseball itself, like every player making adjustments from year to year. It will be fun to watch where his career takes him!