The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed utility man Tommy Edman on the injured list with ankle inflammation, but manager Dave Roberts remains optimistic that his absence will be brief.
“Tommy ran [Friday] and just still didn’t feel great, still some soreness in his ankle,” Roberts told reporters. “Didn’t feel he could play tonight or even tomorrow, potentially. So just the backdate, knowing that it’s potentially 10 days to make sure he gets it right. We just felt that it was an easier decision.”
Tommy Edman’s Effect on the Los Angeles Dodgers
Edman, who tweaked the ankle last week, has become a key piece of the Dodgers’ lineup since arriving via a three-team trade with the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals— a deal that also brought reliever Michael Kopech to L.A. At the time, both players were seen as low-risk acquisitions: Edman was recovering from a wrist injury and Kopech was coming off a down season. Yet both quickly proved valuable.
Edman, in particular, has blossomed in Dodger blue. In 37 regular-season games, he posted a solid .711 OPS. But it was his October heroics that elevated his status. Edman slashed .328/.354/.508 in the postseason, earning NLCS MVP honors and helping propel the Dodgers to their eighth World Series title. In the Fall Classic alone, he posted a .988 OPS, hit a home run, and stole two bases, contributing in all facets of the game.
While his absence is certainly felt, the Dodgers have acted quickly to fill the gap. In a corresponding move, the club called up Hyeseong Kim, a standout from the Korea Baseball Organization, who made his MLB debut over the weekend. Kim has already shown promise, logging some reps at second base and making an impact as a pinch runner—stealing his first base in the majors during Sunday night’s game.
Still, Edman’s versatility and postseason experience are difficult to replace. His ability to play across the diamond and deliver in clutch moments has made him a cornerstone of the current roster.
The good news is that Edman is eligible to return as early as Saturday, and Roberts appears confident that the IL stint is more precautionary than long-term. As the Dodgers aim to defend their title, getting Edman back to full health could be pivotal for another deep postseason push.