Of all the unexpected success stories that have occurred with the Los Angeles Dodgers over recent seasons, Andrew Toles represents one of the more improbable cases.
A former third-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays, Toles reunited with Andrew Friedman when he signed a Minor League contract with the Dodgers in September 2015. He began the following season with High-A Rancho Cucamonga and by July earned a call-up for his MLB debut.
Toles’ rapid ascension culminated with starting for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the 2016 National League Division Series. He figured to play a key role for L.A. in 2017 but suffered a torn ACL early into the season.
That unfortunately marked the beginning of what’s been a rocky few years. Having been out of baseball since 2018, Toles’ resurfaced with news that he was arrested in Florida, per Gwen Filosa of the Miami Herald:
Andrew Alvin Toles was arrested June 22 on a misdemeanor charge of trespassing after he refused to leave the area, according to the arrest report from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Toles was sleeping behind the Federal Express building, located at Key West International Airport, 3491 S. Roosevelt Blvd. All he had with him was a black book bag, deputies said.
Police said they gave Toles several chances to leave the area without being arrested but he wouldn’t walk away, wrote Deputy Tomas Venegas.
Toles was an unexpected absence when the Dodgers reported for the start of Spring Training last year. He was subsequently placed on the restricted list and therefore removed from the 40-man roster.
Toles did eventually report to extended Spring Training but left Camelback Ranch shortly after. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said at the time he believed it was so Toles could spend time with his family.
He never played during the 2019 season and there was not an expectation of returning this year. Toles technically remains part of the Dodgers organization by way of still being on the restricted list.
The 28-year-old has appeared in 96 games over parts of three seasons with L.A., batting .286/.333/.459 with 14 doubles, eight home runs and 35 RBI.
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