Dodgers recall James Outman and Gus Varland
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled outfielder James Outman and right-handed pitcher Gus Varland, optioned left-handed pitcher Nick Ramirez and placed outfielder Jason Heyward on the injured list with a left knee bone bruise.
Outman, 27, returns for his second stint with the team after playing in 36 games for the Dodgers this season. In his first stint, he hit .148 with three homers and 10 RBI. He played in 38 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, slashing .279/.393/.531 with nine homers and 21 RBI. Last season, he finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting after clubbing 23 homers and driving in 70 as the primary centerfielder of the Dodgers. He is in his third season with the Dodgers and has hit a combined .235 with 27 homers and 83 RBI in 191 games. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the seventh round of the 2018 First Year Player Draft out of Sacramento State University.
Varland, 27, joins the club for fourth time this season and he is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in seven games for the Dodgers. He is in his second Major League season and is a combined 1-1 with a 5.81 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 26.1 innings. In Triple-A Oklahoma City, he has appeared in 27 games, allowing 23 runs in 27.2 innings. He was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 14th round of the 2018 First Year Player Draft out of Concordia-St. Paul University.
Ramirez, 34, pitched last night, allowing four runs on five hits in 2.0 innings. He made seven appearances with the Dodgers and posted a 6.35 ERA with four strikeouts in 11.1 innings. With Triple-A Oklahoma City, he was 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 15 games (two starts). The southpaw has been in the Majors parts of five seasons with Detroit (2019-20), San Diego (2021), New York-AL (2023) and Los Angeles (2024) and he is combined 7-7 with a 4.20 ERA in 103 career games. He was acquired by the Dodgers on April 2 from the Yankees for cash considerations.
Heyward, 34, left the game in the third inning last night against the Diamondbacks. He was hitting .203 on the season with four homers and 20 RBI in 42 games. The five-time Gold Glover is in his second season with the Dodgers after hitting .269 with 15 homers and 40 RBI in 2023. He has been in the Major Leagues 14 seasons with Atlanta (2010-14), St. Louis (2015), Chicago-NL (2016-22) and Los Angeles (2023-24) and has amassed 178 homers and 691 RBI in 1,745 career games. He was originally drafted by the Braves with the 14th pick in the 2007 First Year Players Draft out of Henry County High School.