The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled outfielder James Outman from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday. The move corresponds with placing outfielder Teoscar Hernandez on the 10-day injured list.
Hernandez exited Monday's game against the Miami Marlins after the third inning with what was initially described as hamstring tightness. An MRI revealed a Grade 1 groin strain.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Hernandez would be out for a period. "He doesn't come out of baseball games, so we put him on the IL," Roberts said Tuesday. "Obviously, he's going to be inactive for a while."
Outman, 27, joins the major league club for the first time this season. He was hitting .254 with eight home runs and 27 RBI in Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Last season, Outman played 53 games for the Dodgers, where he recorded four home runs and drove in 11 runs. He enters his fourth season in the organization, holding a career line of .231/.337/.408 with 28 home runs and 84 RBI. Outman was drafted in the seventh round of the 2018 First Year Player Draft out of Sacramento State University.
He may see playing time, particularly against right-handed pitchers, given his career platoon splits. However, he has struggled with a high strikeout rate in the majors, a trend that has continued at Triple-A.
Hernandez had been performing well for the Dodgers, hitting .315 with nine home runs and a Major League leading 34 RBI in 33 games this year. His absence shifts the outfield alignment.
The Dodgers outfield has seen inconsistent production outside of Hernandez and Andy Pages. Michael Conforto is off to a slow start, while Chris Taylor and Tommy Edman have also struggled offensively in limited outfield looks. Edman is currently on the 10-day injured list himself with an ankle issue.
The team announced Outman's recall and Hernandez's placement on the injured list Tuesday afternoon.
