GLENDALE, Arizona – The Los Angeles Dodgers will begin the 2024 season without second baseman Tommy Edman, who has been placed on the Injured List following ankle surgery last autumn. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the news on Monday, emphasizing the importance of Edman’s long-term recovery.
Roberts noted that Edman had recently engaged in light physical activity, including swings from both sides and jogging. However, he highlighted the necessity of caution in Edman’s return to full speed. “You don’t want any regression or setbacks. We’re not going to rush it; we want to put him in the best position,” Roberts stated.
Edman, reflecting on his recovery, acknowledged that returning for Opening Day was an ambitious target. “I’ve hit every checkpoint along the way in terms of being 12 weeks, now at 14 weeks,” he explained. “I feel like I’m on schedule with that and just kind of see how it goes with each step along the way.”
With Edman sidelined, the Dodgers are exploring options for second base. Roberts mentioned Miguel Rojas, Hyeseong Kim, and Alex Freeland as potential candidates to fill the position. Notably, Santiago Espinal, who recently signed a minor-league deal with a non-roster invitation to big-league camp, is also in the mix. Espinal has a career batting average of .261 over six seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds.
Espinal’s right-handed batting is seen as a valuable asset, complementing the left-handed Rojas and switch-hitter Freeland, who has shown weaknesses against right-handed pitching. Kim, who is primarily a second baseman, could also serve as a backup for Andy Pages in center field, a role he is preparing for this season.
Kim, a former All-Star infielder in Korea, struggled to find his footing during his rookie season in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in 71 games for the Dodgers last year but spent the initial month in Triple-A to adjust his swing for MLB pitching. “The swing changes we made last year, I felt about 70 percent comfortable,” Kim stated through an interpreter. “I’m working very hard to make those changes again this year.”
Despite an encouraging start, Kim’s performance declined, resulting in a .224 batting average over his final 50 games. He expressed dissatisfaction with his last season and is focused on securing a position on the Dodgers’ opening roster. “I think he got a good introduction to major-league pitching,” Roberts commented. “I expect he’s going to have more opportunities this year.”
Freeland also experienced his first taste of the MLB last season, hitting just .190 in 29 games. Roberts indicated that Freeland has made significant improvements during the offseason. “He’s had a great winter. The swing is in a good place,” Roberts noted. “I just want to see quality at-bats.”
While the Dodgers adjust their lineup for the start of the season, attention is also on the pitching rotation. Blake Snell has yet to participate in live batting practice, making him the only member of the projected six-man rotation not to face hitters thus far. Snell, who signed a five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers, is taking a cautious approach this spring following shoulder issues that hampered his performance last season.
“He’s playing catch. He’s throwing,” Roberts said of Snell. “Once he gets off the mound, throws a ‘pen, faces some hitters, we’ll know more. But obviously, he’s not there right now.” This delay opens the door for alternatives like River Ryan or Gavin Stone, both of whom are recovering from surgeries that sidelined them last season.
As the Dodgers prepare for the upcoming season, the absence of Edman presents both challenges and opportunities for the team to showcase their depth and adaptability.
