The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to churn out their roster. Their latest move is claiming outfielder Jack Suwinski off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates, per FanSided’s Robert Murray.
Suwinski, 27, was once viewed as a key outfield bat for the Pirates. The left-handed swinger broke out in 2023, slashing .224/.339/.454 with 26 home runs in 534 plate appearances.
In the subsequent two seasons, Suwinski has hit his way off the Pirates roster. Since then, he’s hit .169 with just 12 home runs. In that timeframe, he’s exhausted all his options. Pittsburgh cut ties with the underperforming outfielder after signing Marcell Ozuna to a one-year deal.
In order to make room on their 40-man roster spot, the Dodgers placed utilityman Kiké Hernandez on the 60-day injured list. Hernandez is dealing with a torn muscle in his left arm. This is something the Dodgers already knew when they re-signed him, according to MLB.com’s Sonja Chen.
Why the Dodgers Claimed Jack Suwinski
Suwinski gives the Dodgers another lottery ticket for their outfield and left-handed hitting depth. Their current outfield features Teoscar Hernandez, Andy Pages, and Kyle Tucker.
Alex Call, a right-handed hitter, is currently projected as the fourth outfielder. He has two options remaining, so the Dodgers can stash him in Triple-A in favor of a left-handed bat. Infielder Hyeseong Kim spent time in center field in 2025, but he’s projected to be the their primary second baseman by Roster Resource.
That puts the Dodgers in a bit of a bind with their outfield depth, should they lose any of their three starters to injury. In the offseason, they added long-time minor leaguer Ryan Ward to their 40-man roster and claimed Michael Siani off waivers. Siani has an option, so the Dodgers can send him to the minor leagues this season.
One deciding factor for the Dodgers could be positional versatility. Suwinski isn’t a strong defender, with a career -20 Defensive Runs saved and -6 Outs Above Average. OAA gives him a positive grade in center field, where he is +2 over 1529.2 innings. He also provides more offense than Siani, with a .694 career OPS vs. Siani’s .547.
Another reason for the Dodgers to claim Suwinski is to try to pass him through waivers. Since he doesn’t have any options left, Los Angeles would have to designate him for assignment if he fails to make the Opening Day roster. If the goal is to outright him to the minors, he’d have to clear waivers first. The Dodgers are certainly hoping that doesn’t repeat.
If their efforts to retain Suwinski beyond this spring are successful, the Dodgers should have more readily available depth in the outfield for 2026.
Dodgers Minor League Outfield Depth After Adding Jack Suwinski
Between Suwinski, Ward, and Siani, the Dodgers have three left-handed options for their outfield projected to play in Triple-A Oklahoma City. In ideal circumstances, none of them would be needed. But considering Tucker’s injury history, there’s a good chance they’ll need a fourth starting-caliber outfielder for the season.
Based on their 2025 seasons, it seems like Ward will get the first opportunity of the three. He carries all three minor league options and is coming off a strong season in Triple-A. Ward slashed .290/.380/.557 with 36 home runs. FanGraphs estimated his offense to be 32% better than the average Pacific Coast League hitter, with a 132 wRC+.
While Ward is likely the superior hitter, he is a corner outfielder by trade. The Dodgers aren’t in a strong position for center field if they lose Pages for an extended amount of time. Call, Siani, and Suwinski are all legitimate center field options in their system.
With the Dodgers hoping to complete the first three-peat since 2000, they’re hoping that they don’t need their depth. But it won’t stop them from trying to put themselves in the best position to make it happen.
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