The Los Angeles Dodgers added to their organization depth at the end of Spring Training by signing Steven Souza Jr. after he was released by the Houston Astros.
Souza signed a Minor League contract with Houston last offseason and went into camp vying to be the team’s fourth outfielder. However, he went just 2-for-21 with a home run, two RBI, five walks and 13 strikeouts over 14 games before becoming a free agent.
The veteran outfielder remained with Triple-A Oklahoma City until getting called up by the Dodgers in the middle of June. He hit .279/.444/.603 with four doubles, six home runs and 16 RBI over 22 games for OKC prior to that point. Half of Souza’s homers and seven RBI came in a single game on May 30.
Souza remained with the Dodgers until getting designated for assignment on July 6 as a corresponding move to Jake Reed being added to the active roster. Souza hit just .160/.250/.360 with a home run and two RBI in 13 games for L.A.
He wound up clearing waivers and re-signed with the Dodgers on another Minor League deal. Souza was DFA’d for a second time in September, but again remained with the organization. Despite struggling, he wound up being part of the Dodgers’ postseason rosters for the Wild Card Series, National League Division Series and NL Championship Series.
Souza went 1-for-8 with four strikeouts and one walk over playoff games.
Souza’s 2021 highlight
During his first stint with the Dodgers, Souza had an opportunity to play against his former Arizona Diamondbacks team at Chase Field, where he suffered a gruesome knee injury during 2019 Spring Training.
He memorably lifted the Dodgers to a win with a go-ahead home run that came with plenty of emotion.
2022 outlook
Souza again is a free agent and should latch on with a team — perhaps even the Dodgers — to play at the Triple-A level and be a candidate to fill in on a big league roster.
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