Dodgers add Jack Suwinski to outfield mix, place Kiké on 60-day IL after waiver claim
The dodgers claimed outfielder Jack Suwinski off waivers, a move that coincided with placing Kiké on the 60-day injured list and a corresponding roster transaction that placed Enrique Hernandez on the 60-day injured list. The series of moves reshuffles depth in the outfield and opens a short-term roster hole tied to injury recovery.
Dodgers waiver claim and roster timing
At 1: 24PM the Dodgers were claiming outfielder Jack Suwinski off waivers. By 3: 23PM Suwinski’s claim had been announced and Enrique Hernandez was placed on the 60-day injured list in the corresponding roster move. The context notes that Kiké was placed on the 60-day injured list in tandem with the acquisition.
Pertinent injury details and timeline for Enrique Hernandez
Enrique Hernandez underwent surgery in November to repair a torn muscle in his non-throwing arm. It was already known that Enrique Hernandez would be missing at least the first couple of months of the 2026 season, making the 60-day injured list placement an expected roster outcome.
Pirates roster decision that set this in motion
The Pirates designated Jack Suwinski for assignment earlier in the week to open up a 40-man roster spot for Marcell Ozuna. That designation created the waiver opportunity that led to Suwinski moving to his new organization.
Jack Suwinski’s recent track record and profile
Suwinski, listed in the context as 27 years old, struggled over the past two years after a breakout 2023 campaign. He began last season on the big-league roster but did not make it through April. Over the course of that season he played 59 games with the Pirates and 56 games at Triple-A.
In the minors he posted a 150 wRC+. At the major-league level in the recent sample he managed a 55 wRC+ in 178 plate appearances. The profile shows power and walks but pronounced swing-and-miss tendencies: in his first full big-league season he hit 26 home runs and stole 13 bases while striking out at a 32% rate. In his rookie year he hit 19 home runs in 372 plate appearances with a 30. 6% strikeout rate. He has walked at a 12. 3% rate as a big leaguer, a figure that highlights a three-true-outcomes profile even as recent seasons have lacked sustained home-run production.
Where Suwinski fits in the Dodgers outfield picture
The Dodgers are described as set in the outfield with Teoscar Hernandez, Andy Pages, and Kyle Tucker locked into everyday roles. Andy Pages, a right-handed hitter, has a career OPS of. 831 against left-handed pitching and. 722 against right-handed pitching, which presents a potential platoon dynamic but also presents defensive continuity concerns because Pages’ glove is described as difficult to remove from the lineup.
Defensively, Suwinski has accumulated -16 Defensive Runs Saved in his career as a center fielder, suggesting he is unlikely to be a true center-field solution. The most realistic path for Suwinski to make an active roster is pushing Alex Call for the fourth outfielder role while rebuilding value in a different organization.
Context around Pittsburgh’s offseason moves and chatter
The Pirates added outfielders Jhostynxon Garcia and Jake Mangum in separate trades this offseason, and the free-agent signing Ryan O’Hearn was noted as someone who could potentially spend time in the outfield. Those additions, combined with the Marcell Ozuna signing that locked up the DH spot, made Suwinski a long shot to contribute in Pittsburgh.
Public reaction and commentary included predictions that Suwinski will generate a large number of strikeouts and post a batting average near the Mendoza line, while others argued the Dodgers are among a small group of teams where a player might rebound. Some commentary suggested Suwinski should see more hittable pitches in his new situation but also noted roster availability will determine his opportunity.
Details in this article are drawn from the provided coverage and comment thread; further developments may evolve as Suwinski integrates with his new organization and Enrique Hernandez’s rehab timeline advances.
