Outman the Outstanding: Rookie's clutch HRs drive Dodgers

CHICAGO -- It’s impossible to win National League Rookie of the Year with one at-bat in April. But James Outman might’ve just cemented his case for Rookie of the Month with one of the most impressive games you’ll see from any player, not just one playing in his 24th career game in the Majors.

Outman recorded the first multihomer game of his career, which included his first grand slam in the Majors, a go-ahead blast in the ninth inning to help the Dodgers earn a much-needed 6-2 win over the Cubs on Thursday at Wrigley Field.

“I can’t say enough about him,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “Just to get his feet wet last year and he just keeps getting better, which is scary. The at-bat quality and the moment never gets too big for him.”

Outman gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead with his solo blast in the third inning off right-hander Javier Assad. It was a no-doubter, as most Outman homers have been this season, traveling 420 feet. In the fourth, he helped the Dodgers on the scoreboard once again, but this time with his defense.

With Trey Mancini rounding third with only one out, Outman reared back and delivered a perfect strike to Austin Barnes at the plate, who applied the tag on Mancini in plenty of time. The throw kept the score tied, a massive momentum boost for a Dodgers offense still trying to find itself.

“It was a huge play,” Roberts said. “We were kind of reeling right there, and to get that big out to let us get out of that inning was huge. That definitely can’t be overlooked.”

What definitely can’t be overlooked was Outman’s clutch at-bat in the ninth inning with the game on the line. With the bases loaded and one out, Outman worked a full count against Cubs right-hander Michael Fulmer. Fulmer then tried to spin one past Outman in the lower part of the strike zone, but the outfielder turned on it and sent it on a line to the right-field bleachers.

As he watched the ball fly out for a homer, a normally calm Outman turned to the visiting dugout and erupted in emotion.

“I definitely think that was the biggest situation of my career so far. It was really cool,” Outman said. “To be honest, just emotions took over. They were fired up. I was fired up. We were all fired up together.”

The Dodgers, who improved to 10-10 after 20 games, continue to search for some consistency to start the season, but Outman has been the one constant source of offense. With his two homers on Thursday, Outman now has five on the season, which is second on the team behind Max Muncy, who tied for second in the NL with his eighth homer in the win.

Outman’s growth has been a big development for the Dodgers so far this season, especially considering there’s a world where he would still find himself with Triple-A Oklahoma City. In fact, that was the most likely scenario heading into Spring Training.

The Dodgers seemed content going into the season with David Peralta and Jason Heyward as their two left-handed-hitting outfielders off the bench. But once Gavin Lux went down for the season and a couple other outfielders took off for the World Baseball Classic, the door opened for Outman to win a job.

Since then, the 25-year-old has done nothing but hit. And luckily for the Dodgers, in this world, Outman is doing just about everything to all but guarantee him some hardware coming at the end of April.