Dodgers Claim Outfielder Jack Suwinski, Make Corresponding Roster Move

The Dodgers have claimed outfielder Jack Suwinski off waivers, a move announced alongside a corresponding roster transaction that placed Enrique Hernandez on the 60-day injured list. The claim shifts Suwinski to a new organization where he will aim to rebuild after a difficult recent stretch.

Dodgers make roster adjustment: Hernandez to 60-day injured list

The roster move tied to Suwinski's arrival placed Enrique Hernandez on the 60-day injured list. Hernandez underwent surgery in November to repair a torn muscle in his non-throwing arm and was expected to miss at least the first couple of months of the season, prompting the long-term placement on the injured list.

Jack Suwinski: performance profile and recent history

Suwinski, 27, arrives with a mixed résumé. After a breakout season in 2023, he has struggled over the past two years. Last season he began on the big-league roster but did not make it through April; he finished the year with 59 games in the majors and 56 games at Triple-A.

Stat lines included a strong minor-league showing (150 wRC+ at Triple-A) but weak major-league production (55 wRC+ in 178 MLB plate appearances). His power and plate discipline profile shows significant variance: in 2023 he hit 26 home runs and stole 13 bases but did so with a 32% strikeout rate. His rookie numbers featured 19 home runs in 372 plate appearances with a 30. 6% strikeout rate. Across his big-league time he has maintained a robust walk rate of 12. 3% but has not matched his earlier home run output in recent seasons.

Roster context and fit with the Dodgers

The Dodgers enter the transaction with a crowded outfield. Teoscar Hernandez, Andy Pages, and Kyle Tucker are identified as everyday pieces, limiting immediate openings. Pages presents notable platoon splits that could create a situational role opportunity—his career OPS sits higher against left-handed pitching than right-handed pitching—yet his defensive value makes him difficult to remove from regular duty.

Defensively, Suwinski has struggled as a center fielder, carrying a career mark of -16 Defensive Runs Saved in that position, which reduces the likelihood of a center-field role. The most realistic path for Suwinski is a competition for the fourth outfielder spot, where he would push for playing time against established bench options.

Why the claim matters and what comes next

The claim gives Suwinski a fresh organizational setting and preserves roster flexibility for the acquiring club amid an early-season injury to a veteran utility player. For Suwinski, the move represents a chance to re-establish value after a decline in major-league performance, while the team gains an inexpensive outfield option with past power upside and strong walk rates.

Immediate next steps include Suwinski integrating with the new club and competing for a bench role. The injured-list placement for Enrique Hernandez opens a roster spot that allowed this transaction, and Hernandez's recovery timeline was already expected to include at least the first months of the season.

Key facts at a glance

• Transaction: Dodgers claimed outfielder Jack Suwinski off waivers; Enrique Hernandez placed on 60-day injured list.
• Injury note: Hernandez had surgery in November to repair a torn muscle in his non-throwing arm; expected to miss at least the first months of the season.
• Suawinski profile: 27 years old; 59 MLB games and 56 Triple-A games last season; 150 wRC+ in Triple-A; 55 wRC+ in 178 big-league plate appearances.
• Career highlights and concerns: 26 home runs and 13 steals in 2023 with a 32% strikeout rate; rookie season included 19 home runs in 372 plate appearances with a 30. 6% strikeout rate; career walk rate near 12. 3%; -16 DRS as a center fielder.
• Team fit: Outfield depth includes several everyday players; Suwinski is likely to compete for a fourth outfielder role.

Details of Suwinski's role and roster status will become clearer as the club evaluates him during spring workouts and early-season play. These developments reflect an organizational gamble on reclaiming upside in a player who once demonstrated notable power and on-base skill despite recent downturns.