The Dodgers and Edman knew that the utility man would miss a piece of this season after he had surgical procedure to restore his ankle not lengthy after the World Sequence, however his restoration took a little bit longer than beforehand anticipated. Ramping up his operating development was the largest impediment to beat, however as soon as he was over the hump, his rehab picked up.
Halfway by means of June, Edman’s return is eventually right here, as he wrapped up his rehab task with Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis over the weekend and was activated from the 60-day injured record on Tuesday. Utility man Santiago Espinal was designated for task because the corresponding transfer.
This is a have a look at what Edman’s return means for the Dodgers:
A confirmed MLB bat at second baseSecond base has been a platoon for the Dodgers all season lengthy, with Alex Freeland and Hyeseong Kim serving as the first left-handed-hitting choices, and Miguel Rojas and Espinal complementing them from the right-hand facet.
Coming into Sunday, the Dodgers had gotten a .656 OPS from their second basemen, decrease than each place besides shortstop (.645). It is unclear how a lot of an improve Edman shall be — he has a .717 profession OPS, and .672 in his two seasons in L.A. — however he brings extra expertise than Freeland and Kim, who mixed for essentially the most plate appearances by Dodgers second basemen this yr.
It has additionally been some time since we have seen what a wholesome Edman seems to be like. He is handled off-and-on discomfort in his ankle for years. Throughout Spring Coaching, he mentioned the final time he felt near full well being was the start of 2025, when he posted an .818 OPS in 30 video games earlier than tweaking the ankle for the primary time that season.
A real superutility optionEdman’s greatest asset may simply be his versatility, and despite the fact that the Dodgers have carried utility choices in his absence, they’ve lacked a participant who provides them actual lineup flexibility. Kiké Hernández’s return from the IL lasted simply two video games, and Espinal didn’t play the outfield as a Dodger.
Whereas Edman ought to get the lion’s share of the begins at second base, he may also spell Andy Pages, who has began all however two of the Dodgers’ video games in heart subject. Pages has been certainly one of L.A.’s most impactful bats, giving the workforce little motive to wish to go away him out of the lineup, however his manufacturing has dropped off some after a torrid begin to the season. An occasional time without work may assist preserve him recent.
Along with second base and heart subject, Edman additionally began video games at third base and left subject throughout his rehab task with Oklahoma Metropolis, giving the Dodgers further choices.
The championship core will get healthierSimilar to final yr, the Dodgers are coping with an in depth variety of accidents. They’re lacking Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow within the rotation; Edwin DÃaz and Evan Phillips within the bullpen; and Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith within the beginning lineup. And that is not even naming everybody.
The Dodgers have hardly been near full power all season, and regardless of that, they’ve nonetheless been top-of-the-line groups within the Majors. Their precedence is being wholesome in time for what they hope shall be one other deep postseason run, and getting Edman again this week is an encouraging step in the best route.
