LOS ANGELES -- With the Dodgers starting the season with two games in Seoul, South Korea, against the Padres, they’re set to arrive at Camelback Ranch in less than four weeks to prepare for the now much-anticipated 2024 season. 

Before that happens, however, we’ll take an in-depth, position-by-position look at the Dodgers and how they’ll look in ‘24. 

We’ll keep the previews rolling with the outfielders. 

Previous previews: Catchers | Infielders

The starters: Teoscar Hernández, James Outman

Even after acquiring Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers went into the rest of the offseason knowing they needed to get more help in the outfield. With Mookie Betts now a full-time second baseman, the Dodgers sought a right-handed-hitting outfielder. 

At the beginning of the offseason, Hernández was expecting to get a lucrative multi-year deal. That never came and the Dodgers took advantage of the opportunity, signing him to a one-year, $23.5 million deal. The Dodgers love Hernández’s ability to hit left-handers, but he’ll be an everyday player, regardless of pitcher handedness. He’ll play left and right field depending on the matchup. 

In center, Outman earned the starting job last spring and never looked back. Even with a two-month slump in the middle of the season, Outman was one of the bright spots in ‘23. Coming into his sophomore season, he’ll continue to get the opportunities in center field. Outman was solid against left-handed pitching and proved enough to get more consistent at-bats against southpaws. 

The platoon options: Jason Heyward, Manuel Margot

Heyward revived his career last season with the Dodgers, and he did it due to his ability to hit right-handed pitching. The veteran outfielder was a perfect fit in the clubhouse and was quickly brought back on a one-year deal for ‘24. With Betts at second, Heyward will continue to be the team’s right fielder against southpaws.

Margot, on the other hand, will mostly play against left-handers, but the extent of his playing time will be something to monitor going into the season. He’s a solid defender in all three outfield spots, which will clear the way for him to make an impact next season. 

Who backs them up?: Chris Taylor 

As we discussed in the infield preview, Taylor will likely slot back into his super-utility role that has made him an integral part of the roster the last few seasons. Taylor will get some time in the infield, but he can also be a reliable left fielder whenever the Dodgers need him. 

Down on the farm: Andy Pages, Jose Ramos

There’s not much big league-ready help in the farm system. Pages would’ve been an option had he played last season, but the Cuban outfielder missed the entire year after tearing his right labrum. Pages will likely start the season in either Double-A Tulsa or Triple-A Oklahoma City, but he likely won’t make his debut until at least the 2025 season. He’s a very talented hitter, however, so he could surprise. 

Ramos wasn’t protected before the Rule 5 Draft, but went unselected once again. The Panamanian outfielder has shown big power throughout the Minors, hitting 57 homers in his four pro seasons, but big strikeout numbers have prevented him from becoming one of the most polished hitters in the Minors. Like Pages, he’s not expected to be ready for The Show this season. 

Given the lack of depth in the outfield, expect the Dodgers to continue to work the phones to try and bring in veteran pieces on Minor League deals that could serve as options later in the season. 

“Back then, what made me better, when I was going to hit, there was always a lot of people on base, and I think that makes me more patient at the plate, because I know they’re not gonna throw a lot of good pitches to hit. I think that was the difference in 2021, when I had that big year. This lineup is going to be a lot better, because I have players like Mookie [Betts], [Freddie] Freeman, [Shohei] Ohtani and [Max] Muncy -- and all those guys, I can learn from them.” -- Hernández, when asked about his stellar 2021 and what he looks forward to with the Dodgers.

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