The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without starting second baseman Tommy Edman to start the season, which opens up an opportunity for their organizational depth to prove itself early on.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced on Monday that Edman is starting the year on the injured list after undergoing a debridement procedure and ligament repair in the offseason.
Edman was limited to 97 games last season due to his recurring right ankle injury, but still managed to tie a career high with 13 home runs and finished with the third-most he’s ever had in a season.
Roberts had four names in mind for the second base position going forward and feels good about someone emerging to hold down the fort while Edman fully recovers.
“I think Hyeseong is in the mix, we got Espinal,” he said. “Obviously, Miggy Ro is going to do some things over there. Freeland is certainly in the mix. So we got some nice options.”
The Dodgers signed former All-Star Santiago Espinal to a Minor League deal on Monday, while the rest were with the Dodgers in some capacity last season.
Hyeseong Kim made a good impression during his rookie season in 2025, batting .280/.314/.385 in 71 games. Miguel Rojas paired Gold Glove caliber defense with a wRC+ of 100 last season in 114 appearances.
Alex Freeland was called up last season with the injuries to Max Muncy and Kim, and he looks to improve upon a mixed 2025 season as one of the organization’s top prospects.
Espinal is coming off a down season, with a 58 wRC+, but his ability to avoid strikeouts at a high level provides a nice baseline. He has kept his strikeout percentage below 15% since 2021, including a career best 11.6% last season in 328 plate appearances.
Kim and Rojas have the inside track to be the Dodgers’ Opening Day starter at second base. Together, they are a great option to replace Edman in the interim, with the 27-year-old’s high ceiling and the 36-year-old’ high floor.
Santiago Espinal provides Dodgers with right-handed infield depth
The Dodgers were in need of a right-handed-hitting infielder after losing Andy Ibáñez to the Athletics on waivers. Ibáñez was originally set to fill in as infield depth with Kiké Hernández and Tommy Edman beginning the year on the injured list.
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