Tommy Edman has not been a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers for very long, but he figures to be an important member of the organization in the present and foreseeable future.
Edman and the Dodgers are a match made in heaven because of his ability to play all over the field at a high level while providing solid offensive contributions.
He made is way over to LA at the trade deadline by way of a three team trade between the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox and Dodgers. In 37 regular season games with the Dodgers, Edman had a .237 batting average, six home runs, 20 RBI, 20 runs scored, and played three different positions.
The Dodgers’ trip down south for Game 3 and 4 of the National League Division Series also represents a homecoming for Edman, who grew up in San Diego and played his high school ball at La Jolla Country Day School. That means he has a little extra on the line in addition to a trip to the National League Championship Series.
“I’ve got a lot of friends who are still Padres fans. I’m hoping we can beat them so I can talk trash to them this offseason,” Edman said.
Through three games, he has done his job to help make that a reality with three hits, two stolen bases and good defense in center and filling in at shortstop after Miguel Rojas left Game 3 early due to injury.
Being down 2-1 in the series, the Dodgers need to get back to their winning formula from Game 1 if they want to extend their season. Despite scoring five runs off Michael King in Game 3, the Dodgers offense sputtered after the third inning.
Gavin Lux, Edman, Rojas, and Andy Pages (who subbed in for Rojas) went a combined 1-9 which put no pressure on Padres pitching when Shohei Ohtani came up to bat. The one hit from Rojas was a single in the third inning in front of Ohtani that began a four run rally.
Could Tommy Edman start at shortstop for Game 4?
With Rojas leaving Game 3 early, Edman filled in and could now be in line to start in the infield for Game 4. That may ultimately depend on how Rojas feels, but the Dodgers may be better off going with Edman and a healthy option in the outfield regardless of how Rojas feels.
Edman provides the Dodgers with an elite glove at shortstop, and getting a bat such as Kiké Hernández or Andy Pages in the lineup in center field could prove to be a difference maker.
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