Tommy Edman has proved to be a solid piece for what the Los Angeles Dodgers’ recipe for success is, as he’s moved around the diamond since joining the team during last year’s trade deadline.
With Spring Training quickly winding to a close, Edman’s versatility could be a saving grace as the Dodgers continue evaluating options at multiple positions. Second base is an area to note, as Edman has played five of his six Cactus League games there.
The Dodgers are slow playing rookie Hyeseong Kim while also moving him around defensively. That opens the door for Edman to be the early favorite for an everyday role at second base if the Dodgers opt for a proven veteran going into the season.
“I don’t know yet,” manager Dave Roberts answered when asked if Edman’s role was penciled in at second base.
“I think that we have a couple guys in James (Outman) and Andy (Pages) playing center field. We got Hyeseong (Kim) out there a little bit in center field. Tommy obviously can play some center field, and so just kind of keeping him active on the dirt at second base.
“We know we can play short, and to kind of see where Hyeseong goes and develops as the spring goes on. But yeah, he’s still in the mix, but I do believe that getting him out there, talking about Hyeseong Kim, in center field, but also playing some second base, there’s not a lot of downside to that.”
In his career, Edman has played 2,279 career innings at second base. But over recent years he’s primarily been utilized in a rover role. The Dodgers covet players who have that ability, and that was a factor behind signing Edman to a contract extension during the offseason.
Edman has shown his splits against left-handed pitching can overwhelm the opposition, and his performance in the 2024 National League Championship Series earned him MVP honors. He is now a pillar in what the Dodgers’ efforts to repeat as World Series champions, be it at second base or center field.
Tommy Edman outlook for 2025
Projections have Edman to be a league-average hitter across the board, with FanGraphs charting him at a 98 wRC+ for the 2025 season.
Edman’s switch-hitting prowess is a plus, and his splits against lefties should be much higher than his numbers against righties. Although Edman didn’t steal a bunch in his 37 regular season games with the Dodgers, he swiped 89 bases from 2021-2023.
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