Jack Suwinski clears waivers, Dodgers outright him to Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Los Angeles Dodgers outrighted outfielder Jack Suwinski to Triple-A Oklahoma City on March 3 after he cleared waivers, removing him from the club’s 40-man roster. The transaction was logged officially and leaves the Dodgers with 39 players on the 40-man, per Truebluela and Newsweek.

Los Angeles had claimed Suwinski off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Feb. 21, a move that coincided with putting utilityman Kiké Hernández on the 60-day injured list to open the roster spot. MLB noted Hernández is rehabbing from offseason elbow surgery and that “Hernández said on a podcast that he expects to miss up to two months of the regular season.”

Newsweek reported Suwinski “had been designated for assignment once again at some point in the week prior” to the March 3 outright, and the subsequent clearing of waivers was reflected in the transactions log. That sequence — claim, DFA, clear — wraps the short spring stint that began with the Dodgers adding him in Tempe, Ariz.

The outright accomplishes what front offices prize in March: roster flexibility. Newsweek wrote that “By outrighting Suwinski to Triple‑A Oklahoma City this early in the spring, the Dodgers relieved themselves of having to decide at the end of camp whether he'd be put on the active roster or exposed to waivers at a time when lots of teams are typically open to the idea of claiming somebody.” Truebluela added the move “removes an extra burden should an opportunity arise,” and explicitly noted the 40-man now stands at 39.

Context matters here. Truebluela reported the Dodgers are 26th in waiver priority based on last year’s records, a factor that helps explain why Suwinski went unclaimed. The site also contrasted this outcome with earlier offseason attempts that failed; Ben Rortvedt was claimed off waivers twice and Andy Ibáñez was claimed as well, with Truebluela specifying the Mets claimed Rortvedt.

Suwinski’s profile explains the gamble. He is 27 and has appeared in 397 major league games since his 2022 debut, Newsweek recorded. His career slash is .199/.305/.389 with 57 home runs, 148 RBIs, 33 stolen bases and a 12.3% walk rate. MLB’s Sonja Chen emphasized that “Suwinski, 27, is out of Minor League options, meaning that he must make the Dodgers' Opening Day roster or be exposed to waivers once again. He may actually have an outside chance at breaking camp with Los Angeles due to his ability to play center field.” MLB also noted he’s logged 1,529 2/3 innings in center field.

Recent results made that margin thin. Over 2024–25 combined, Truebluela and Sports Yahoo put Suwinski at a .169/.271/.297 slash with a 59 wRC+ across 455 plate appearances. CBS Sports detailed last season’s line at .147 with 3 home runs, 10 RBI, 7 stolen bases and 15 runs in 59 games. Truebluela summarized it bluntly: “It’s not all that surprising that the Dodgers would try to get Suwinski through waivers, as he was below replacement level the last two seasons... and he’s out of options.”

Through the limited spring work Suwinski did at Camelback Ranch, he had not appeared in an official Cactus League game but was taking reps on the backfields and participated in a simulated game where he faced Emmet Sheehan, footage captured by Dodger Blue. CBS Sports concluded he “appears on track to begin the year at Triple‑A Oklahoma City after passing through another round of waivers unclaimed.”

The practical outcome: Suwinski stays in the Dodgers organization as outfield depth and will report to Triple‑A Oklahoma City, where the club can “work with Suwinski in the minors on the adjustments they feel he needs to rediscover his major league talent,” per Newsweek. For now the Dodgers have an open 40-man slot to use on a player like Ben Rortvedt if he returns to availability, or to reward non-roster invitees such as Santiago Espinal or Cole Irvin over the next three weeks, Truebluela suggested.