James Outman Homers Off His Hero, Dodgers Rookie Shines to Open Season

The Dodgers lost to the Diamondbacks last night on a final of 8-3, but the game was a big win for rookie outfielder James Outman. He got his first start of the season against a left-handed pitcher and that lefty just so happened to be a childhood hero of his.

Outman took Madison Bumgarner 416 feet to deep right field, not only hitting his first career home run off a lefty at the big league level, it was his first hit off a lefty period.

For the kid that grew up 30 minutes from AT&T/Oracle Park in Redwood City, CA, it was “pretty special.”

“You could probably ask any of my buddies – he was a childhood hero for us,” Outman said. “To be on the same field competing was pretty cool.”

Via Bill Plunkett, OC Register

The moment is just another highlight in what has been a great start to the 2023 season. He leads all MLB rookies in slugging (.850) and OPS (1.369), and all NL rookies in average (.350) and RBI (7).

As the kids say online, Outman is “him.”

Outman and the Dodgers try to right the ship tonight in Arizona with Noah Syndergaard getting his second start of the season against veteran right-hander Zach Davies. First pitch is set for 5:10 PM PT.

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