This story was excerpted from Sonja Chen’s Dodgers Beat publication. To learn the total publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.
Prospects akin to River Ryan and James Tibbs III have given Dodgers followers loads of causes to tune into Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis and get a glimpse of the staff’s future. In the mean time, there are additionally storylines surrounding the Comets that might have implications for L.A. within the current day.
From rehabbers to gamers trying to get again on monitor, the Dodgers have a number of notable names with their Triple-A affiliate. Listed below are three to control in Oklahoma Metropolis:
Edman, who started this season on the injured record whereas recovering from offseason surgical procedure on his proper ankle, joined the Comets on Might 26. He is anticipated to stay on his rehab task for the utmost 20 days allowed, so after taking part in out this week with Oklahoma Metropolis, he must be an choice to return to the Dodgers.
When Edman returns, the switch-hitting utility man ought to take over the majority of the begins at second base, with occasional appearances in middle discipline. Apparently, Edman has additionally made begins at third base, the place he made 13 appearances final yr when Max Muncy was on the IL, and left discipline, the place he hadn’t performed since 2020.
“It is simply extra of sort of protecting all of our bases,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned.
Edman increasing his versatility might probably open up some extra alternatives for Alex Freeland, who has proven some progress in his second stint within the large leagues this season, to proceed to get reps at second base. Whereas the Dodgers look ahead to getting one in all their veteran bats again, in addition they acknowledge the necessity to see what they’ve of their youthful gamers with the intention to maintain their window of competition open for the foreseeable future.
One yr to the day after having Tommy John surgical procedure, Phillips made his first rehab outing with Oklahoma Metropolis on June 4. Like Edman, Phillips has a protracted stick with the Comets in retailer and is prone to take the utmost 30 days allowed for pitchers to construct up his arm. That traces him as much as return to the Dodgers in early July.
A few of the containers Phillips might want to examine on his rehab task embody pitching on back-to-back days and two out of three days, in addition to doing an up-down.
The Dodgers’ bullpen has been among the many finest in baseball, as coming into Sunday, they ranked seventh within the Majors with a 3.30 ERA — and that is with out nearer Edwin Díaz, who’s out till the second half after surgical procedure to take away free our bodies from his proper elbow. Phillips, who was one in all L.A.’s most trusted leverage arms in earlier years, might assist an ideal ‘pen turn into even higher.
It is probably not lengthy till Brock Stewart, who’s on the IL for a second time this season with a left foot bone spur, joins Phillips within the Comets’ bullpen. Stewart will throw reside batting observe not less than yet one more time earlier than starting a rehab task, though that can be contingent on his foot feeling good whereas collaborating in PFPs.
Kim has been again with the Comets for simply over per week, because the Dodgers are searching for him to work on his swing. Notably Kim, like Edman, has been branching out defensively currently.
Since returning to Oklahoma Metropolis, Kim has began at second base, third base, shortstop and middle discipline. He additionally made an look for the Dodgers in left discipline one recreation earlier than he was optioned to Triple-A. The staff has spoken about growing him into a real super-utility participant prior to now, however in observe, he has primarily appeared within the center infield for L.A.
An important factor for Kim, although, is getting his swing again to the place it was at first of the season.
“There’s some stuff in his setup, and it began to float to slightly bit extra, like what we noticed final yr,” basic supervisor Brandon Gomes mentioned when Kim was optioned. “Thought when he first got here up, he’d performed some actually good work with our hitting guys down in Triple-A. So our guys are going to get collectively as a bunch and put collectively a plan and … hopefully get him again to the place he was earlier within the season.”
