The Los Angeles Dodgers have been without Tommy Edman since Aug. 4 when he landed on the 10-day injured list due to a sprained right ankle.
Roughly a month after being placed on the IL, Edman began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He appeared in five games, going 4-for-14 (.286) with three walks and no extra-base hits.
Edman played in his final rehab game on Sunday, and he has now returned to L.A. The expectation is after two days off, Edman will return for the series finale against the Colorado Rockies.
“Tommy is flying back, I think, as we speak,” Roberts said on Monday afternoon. “He’ll be in town, and so the thought is, he’ll probably be active Wednesday.”
While on his rehab, Edman focused on playing center field with the expectation that is where the Dodgers will utilize him. Given the struggles of Teoscar Hernández and Michael Conforto, it will allow them to improve the group by moving Andy Pages to a corner outfield spot.
The Dodgers also don’t want Edman switching between multiple positions, given his lengthy history with ankle trouble.
Edman has dealt with multiple ankle injuries, including last year when he sprained it while on rehab assignment for right wrist surgery he had after the 2023 season.
Edman injured the ankle again earlier this year while sliding into second base and landed on the injured list on May 3 due to right ankle inflammation.
Edman later aggravated his ankle while running the bases against the Boston Red Sox, and was a late scratch from the lineup on July 28. That led to a second stint on the IL in early August, and he has been out since then.
Edman also avoided the IL in early June after tweaking the ankle during a game against the New York Mets.
Due to that history, Edman didn’t rush in his rehab process and recovery to avoid any more setbacks with the hopes of being available as a center field option.
How will the Dodgers make room for Tommy Edman?
To make room on the roster for Edman, Justin Dean will likely be optioned back to Oklahoma City.
Dean has been used as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner by the Dodgers, appearing in 17 games while only making two plate appearances.
With Edman expected to take over in center field, the need for a defensive replacement becomes less valuable.
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