The Los Angeles Dodgers looked to youngster James Outman to take over as their starting center fielder when they non-tendered Cody Bellinger during the offseason.

Outman had several hot streaks and several cool spells over the season, but all in all, it was an extraordinarily successful debut year.

With 23 home runs, 86 runs scored, 70 RBI, 16 stolen bases, a 118 wRC+, and 4.4 WAR in 151 games, Outman was a productive player.

He would have been the frontrunner to win Rookie of the Year in most years, but Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks was the clear favorite and is certain to place close to the top of the National League MVP voting.

Outman expressed his disappointment with the way the season ended and thanked Dodgers supporters on Instagram after the team was ousted in the NL Division Series.

Outman also mentioned in his letter the people he got to know and the connections he formed over the season, as well as how he is excited for the next year after working even harder in the offseason.

The 26-year-old worked closely with Dodgers hitting coaches Aaron Bates and Robert Van Scoyoc during the season in an effort to improve his consistency at the plate.

He won two Rookie of the Month awards when the season came to an end. He won the prize twice, the first time in April and the second time in August.

Along with Kazuhisa Ishii (April 2002), James Loney (September 2007), Blake DeWitt (May 2008), Dee Strange-Gordon (September 2011), Yasiel Puig (June 2013), Alex Guerrero (April 2015), Corey Seager (June 2016), and Bellinger (May and June 2017), Outman is one of nine Dodgers rookies to have won the award.

Unfortunately, he struggled in the postseason along with a lot of other hitters, and in the series finale, he was benched in favor of Kiké Hernández.

James Outman forecast for 2024

For the Los Angeles Dodgers, Outman should start the season as a starting outfielder once more. Though his primary position will be center field, he can also play either of the two corner positions when necessary.

Reducing strikeouts or increasing extra-base hits is the next phase in his offensive game. Outman has nevertheless shown to be an important player, even if he doesn’t advance farther.