Los Angeles Dodgers prospect James Outman has been turning heads during the 2023 Spring Training, leaving teammates and fans in awe with his home run hitting abilities. In a recent live batting practice session, Outman blasted homers off Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips, and Caleb Ferguson, prompting Hudson to joke about facing “Babe Ruth over here.”

Although Outman is competing with veterans like Jason Heyward, David Peralta, Chris Taylor, and Trayce Thompson for playing time, his performance so far has been nothing short of impressive. The 25-year-old is currently batting .391/.464/.783, boasting one double, one triple, two home runs, and eight RBI in 11 Cactus League games.

Outman’s ability to hit against both right-handers and left-handers only adds to his value. The young left-handed hitter has a chance to avoid being pigeonholed as a platoon player if he can continue producing solid results against southpaws.

Despite making a splash in his MLB debut last season, Outman only played in four games for the Dodgers, but he continued to make a name for himself in Double-A Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Playing with the OKC Dodgers, Outman recorded a .292/.390/627 batting line, with 15 home runs, 61 RBI, and an impressive 1.017 on-base plus slugging.

While Outman’s performance might have secured him a spot on other teams, the Dodgers have a wealth of options for their two outfield positions. This roster crunch could see Outman starting the season in Triple-A to receive everyday playing time while the team evaluates their other choices.

Although Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged Outman’s ability to play at the Major League level, he also hinted that the prospect might still be behind the veterans on the depth chart. That being said, if Outman continues to hit like the legendary Babe Ruth, it’s only a matter of time before he finds a permanent spot in the big leagues.