Dodgers claim Jack Suwinski; dodgers add Suwinski, place Kiké on 60-day IL
dodgers claimed outfielder Jack Suwinski off waivers, and Enrique Hernandez was placed on the 60-day injured list in the corresponding roster move. The claim was identified at 1: 24PM, and an official announcement followed at 3: 23PM that also confirmed the roster shift.
Claim timeline and roster move
The team picked up Suwinski after the Pirates designated him for assignment earlier this week to open a 40-man roster spot for Marcell Ozuna. The designation had occurred on Monday when the Pirates signed Ozuna, ending Suwinski’s four-year stint in Pittsburgh. The corresponding move placed Enrique Hernandez on the 60-day injured list.
Suwinski’s recent performance and history
The 27-year-old Suwinski struggled over the past two years after a breakout 2023 season. He began last season on the big-league roster but didn’t make it through April, finishing with 59 games for the Pirates and 56 games at Triple-A. In the minors he produced a 150 wRC+, while he managed a 55 wRC+ in 178 major-league plate appearances in that span. Across 2024-25 he hit. 169/. 271/. 297 with a 59 wRC+ in 455 plate appearances.
Suwinski’s first full big-league season produced 26 home runs and 13 steals but came with a 32% strikeout rate. His rookie year included 19 home runs in 372 plate appearances with a 30. 6% strikeout rate. As a big leaguer he has walked at a 12. 3% rate. Career defensive marks include -16 Defensive Runs Saved as a center fielder; by Outs Above Average he is +2 in center, -3 in right, and -6 in left.
Suwinski was acquired from the Padres in the Adam Frazier deal at the 2021 trade deadline.
Kiké Hernández and roster mechanics
Enrique Hernandez was placed on the 60-day injured list as the roster corresponding move. The context states that Hernandez underwent surgery in November to repair a torn muscle in his non-throwing arm and that he was expected to miss at least the first couple of months of the 2026 season. Separately, the context also notes that Kiké Hernández was placed on the 60-day injured list to make roster room and that Kiké Hernández was coming off left elbow surgery in November; the relationship between the two references is unclear in the provided context.
Suwinski is out of minor-league options, having used option years in 2022, 2024, and 2025 with the Pirates. He has two years, 170 days of major league service time and was a Super Two this offseason, among the top 22 percent of players with between two and three years of service. He avoided an arbitration hearing in November with a one-year, $1. 25 million deal in November.
Dodgers outfield picture and competition
The Dodgers enter the offseason with Teoscar Hernandez, Andy Pages, and Kyle Tucker locked into everyday roles in the outfield. Andy Pages, a right-handed hitter, has a career split showing a. 831 OPS against left-handed pitching and a. 722 OPS against right-handed pitching, creating a possible platoon discussion. Suwinski’s best path to a roster spot is identified as pushing Alex Call for the fourth outfielder role.
Before the claim the club had 17 position players on the 40-man roster. Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández were noted as not being ready for opening day, creating open battles in camp for second base and multiple bench spots. The only other center-field options on the 40-man besides starter Andy Pages were Michael Siani, who has an option year remaining, and Hyeseong Kim, who has options but is an infielder by trade and is in the running to play second base.
From the Pittsburgh side, the club added outfielders Jhostynxon Garcia and Jake Mangum in separate trades this offseason, and the free agent signing Ryan O’Hearn was mentioned as a player who could potentially spend time on the grass. The Marcell Ozuna addition was described as locking up the DH spot and further limiting Suwinski’s chance to make the Pirates roster.
Fan reaction and commentary
Online reaction included critical and speculative takes. Samples include: “What’s huge will be the number of strikeouts Jack will make this season along with his annual batting average of close to the Mendoza line. ” Other comments read, “There’s like 3 teams that I never rule out a player breaking out or rebounding with, regardless of how bad they were before. The Dodgers are one of those teams, ” followed by, “Who are the other 2 teams? Rays and Brewers?” and, “Yeah, the Rays definitley, and the Pirates haven’t had very much luck with their players going to Milwaukee. ”
Additional fan lines included, “Is this acquisition to get the other teams to stop complaining about how good the Dodgers are?” and debate about playing time: “Strikeouts won’t be huge. If he doesn’t hit hrs walk and keep them reasonable he won’t play enough for them to be huge. ” Comments about how Suwinski might see different pitch sequences read, “It was a lot easier to pitch around him in Pittsburgh’s lineup. He was one of the only guys capable of taking you deep. He should get a lot more pitches to hit in LA, ” and, “Hard to get pitches to hit when you’re not on the active roster. ” One final terse reaction stated, “You clearly never watched Suwingandamisski. There was no pitchin. ”
Photo courtesy of Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images
Closing: The claim brings Suwinski to a new organization where he will attempt to rebuild value while the club navigates injured-list absences and camp competition ahead of the 2026 season.
