Twins

Called up to the Twins, James Outman is ready for a fresh start

James Outman was traded to the Twins from the Dodgers after sputtering the past two seasons. Following two weeks at Class AAA, he’s back in the major leagues and eager to hit.

By Phil Miller

The Minnesota Star Tribune

August 17, 2025 at 12:12AM

James Outman, traded from the Dodgers to the Twins organization earlier this month, was called back up the major leagues on Saturday. (Carolyn Kaster/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

James Outman has played at Target Field before. Rather memorably, actually, considering how his season went otherwise.

Outman collected a hit in each game for the Dodgers from April 8-10, 2024, including a home run in each of the first two games, both Twins victories. He went 4-for-11 (.363) with three RBI, numbers that seem pedestrian — until you realize that four hits in a series was his season high, as were the two home runs (he only hit two more all year), and the three runs driven in.

“It was a good series,” Outman said Saturday upon being called up from Class AAA St. Paul. “I was happy about that one.”

But he is a bit mystified by his major league performance the past two seasons, after cracking 23 home runs as a rookie in 2023, collecting 120 hits, 70 RBI and even stealing 16 bases. Outman finished third in Rookie of the Year voting, and seemed like a Dodgers fixture for years to come.

His numbers since then: 200 plate appearances for the Dodgers, only 24 hits (and a .137 average), six homers and 15 RBI. Safe to say, he welcomes a fresh start.

“A big part of it is just knowing that you’re a good player, and there are multiple ways to affect the game and help your team win,” Outman said. “You know, everybody wants to hit, and it’s frustrating when you don’t, but it was just learning more about myself and learning that opportunities come and they go. The important thing is to be ready to play every day.”

Two weeks after being acquired in a deadline-day swap for reliever Brock Stewart, he’ll get that chance now. Alan Roden, another trade-deadline acquisition, went on the injured list Saturday with a left thumb sprain that has been too painful to allow him to hit, opening the way for Outman.

“He’s going to get opportunities to play, and to hopefully get into a good rhythm and show us some things he can do,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, who penciled Outman into Saturday’s lineup, playing left field and batting ninth. “I’d like to get to know the player a little bit.”

Outman is also known as a strong defender, as the Twins witnessed firsthand last month in Los Angeles, when Outman stole a Carlos Correa home run.

“He’s got speed, he’s got strength,” Baldelli said. “There’s real upside” to his defense.

Outman will get playing time at all three outfield positions at some point, Baldelli said, in a five-player rotation with Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, Austin Martin and Trevor Larnach.

“It’ll be a nice, easy rotation,” Baldelli said.

One that Outman welcomes, especially after being limited mostly to a defensive replacement role in his final three weeks with the Dodgers. Outman appeared in 13 games but batted only 17 times, going hitless in his final 14 at-bats as a Dodger.

“Getting some more at-bats underneath my belt, I would say, and getting back into the swing of things, no pun intended” is his goal, Outman said. “I didn’t really have too many at-bats throughout July, so that was a big part of it, So I’m just kind of, like, shaking off some of the rust.”

Roden needs further testing

Roden, who originally injured his left thumb while running into the wall at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday to catch a foul ball, aggravated the injury while sliding into home plate on a squeeze attempt against the Tigers on Thursday. The pain has lingered, Baldelli said, so the Twins decided to give him another week to fully recover.

In the meantime, Roden will be examined by a hand specialist, Baldelli said, just to make certain there are no hidden issues to be addressed.

Thumbs-up from López

Pablo López enjoyed “a normal Day 1 after throwing,” on Saturday, Baldelli said, showing no unusual soreness after his two-inning simulated start before Friday’s game.

“He gave me a thumbs-up, so that’s good,” Baldelli said.

The Twins are still discussing what the next step will be for López, who has been on the injured list since suffering a strain of the teres muscle in his right shoulder on June 3.

Simeon Woods Richardson was back with the Twins on Saturday, too, after making a two-inning rehab start for St. Paul on Friday, allowing one hit and striking out four.

“He came out good,” Baldelli said. “We’ll continue to build him up” when the Saints return home next week.

Saints lose

Mick Abel struck out a franchise record and career-high 11 batters in his third start since being traded from the Phillies, but the St. Paul Saints were walked-off in the bottom of the ninth in a 4-3 loss to the Omaha Storm Chasers.

about the writer

Phil Miller

Reporter

Phil Miller has covered the Twins for the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2013. Previously, he covered the University of Minnesota football team, and from 2007-09, he covered the Twins for the Pioneer Press.