Dodgers claim Jack Suwinski — what fans and outfield contenders should expect from the waiver pickup

Why this matters now: With the dodgers announcing a waiver claim for outfielder Jack Suwinski and a corresponding move to the 60-day injured list for Enrique Hernandez (also referenced as Kiké in coverage), the club’s everyday outfield pecking order and the fourth-outfielder fight both shift immediately. The claim creates a short-term roster vacancy and a longer-term audition for a player trying to rebuild value.

How this shifts the dodgers outfield mix and the immediate impact

The roster move that accompanied Suwinski’s claim changes who is competing for depth minutes. Coverage noted two timestamps for the development: at 1: 24PM, Robert Murray flagged the claim in progress; at 3: 23PM, the claim was officially announced and the corresponding roster move placed Enrique Hernandez on the 60-day injured list. Separate headlines used the nickname Kiké when referring to the 60-day IL placement, while other coverage used the name Enrique Hernandez.

That injured-list placement follows surgery in November to repair a torn muscle in Hernandez’s non-throwing arm, and it was stated that he would be missing at least the first couple of months of the 2026 season. The timing of the claim intersects directly with that expected absence.

Event details and the path that led here

Jack Suwinski, identified as a 27-year-old outfielder, was designated for assignment earlier this week by his previous club to open a 40-man roster spot for Marcell Ozuna. That DFA led to the Dodgers’ waiver claim. Suwinski’s recent track record in coverage shows a player who broke out in 2023 but then struggled the following two years: he began last season on the big-league roster but didn’t make it through April, finishing the year with 59 games in the majors and 56 games at Triple-A.

Performance metrics cited in coverage: a 150 wRC+ at Triple-A but just a 55 wRC+ in 178 MLB plate appearances. His 2023 line included 26 home runs and 13 steals, but that came with a high strikeout tendency — a 32% strikeout rate in that season and a 30. 6% rate in his rookie year (when he hit 19 homers in 372 plate appearances). He has also walked at a roughly 12. 3% clip as a big leaguer.

The previous club’s offseason moves — adding outfielders Jhostynxon Garcia and Jake Mangum in separate trades and signing Ryan O’Hearn, who could take grass time — were noted as factors that made Suwinski a long shot to stick there, with Ozuna locking up the DH spot.

Quick Q&A for roster watchers

• Who’s most affected? The immediate ripple touches Enrique Hernandez/Kiké (the player placed on the 60-day IL), regulars Teoscar Hernandez, Andy Pages and Kyle Tucker — each described as locked into everyday roles — and depth options like Alex Call, who is cited as the player Suwinski would be pushing for a fourth-outfielder gig.
• What does Suwinski bring? Power and walk rate are part of his profile: big home-run seasons in 2023 and his rookie year, plus a strong walk rate, but paired with heavy strikeout rates and defensive metrics that included -16 Defensive Runs Saved as a center fielder.
• How realistic is a roster spot? With the club described as set in the outfield and Pages’ platoon splits noted (. 831 OPS vs lefties,.722 vs righties), Suwinski’s best path was framed as competing for the fourth-outfielder role rather than an everyday job.

Fan reaction, chatter and what to watch for next

Fan commentary included predictions that Suwinski’s strikeouts will be a focal point and skepticism about his batting average (one comment predicted a mark near the Mendoza line). Threads also debated which organizations are most likely to revive struggling players, naming the Dodgers along with two other clubs by fan suggestion. Other remarks pointed out that Suwinski was easier to pitch around in his previous lineup and that getting onto the active roster is a prerequisite to making an impact. Some responses were conversational and misspelled, reflecting a mix of skepticism and hope among observers.

What’s easy to miss is how closely connected these moves are: a November surgery, an expected multi-month absence, a DFA to clear a 40-man spot and a waiver claim all combine to reshape depth without changing the everyday starters overnight. The real question now is whether Suwinski can translate minor-league pop and a high walk rate into enough impact to displace an incumbent depth piece.

Photo courtesy of Charles LeClaire.