The Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed Teoscar Hernández back from the injured list on Monday, making him the second position player to return this month. The first was Tommy Edman, who began the season on the IL due to the recovery process after having right ankle surgery during the offseason.
Hernández was in the lineup for the series opener against the A’s, playing his usual left field, but Edman did not start. He’s appeared in 10 games (eight starts) so far this year, primarily in left field but that’s going to be changing to second base with Hernández now back.
“I would say he take on more games at second base, and then if Max (Muncy) needs a day off against a lefty, at third base,” manager Dave Roberts said of the plan for Edman moving forward.
The Dodgers had been leveraging Edman’s versatility by having him play left field in eight games (five starts) since he came off the injured list. Prior to this year, Edman had not played left field since doing so in eight games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2020.
His outfield work since getting traded to the Dodgers at the deadline in 2024 solely consisted of center field. But the Dodgers were forced to ease off that over recent years as Edman dealt with lingering right ankle trouble.
Now in a much better physical state because of last year’s surgery, the Dodgers felt comfortable relying on Edman to help fill in for Hernández. They still certainly trust him as a center fielder, but there’s less of a need now that Andy Pages has emerged as a Gold Glove caliber player and All-Star talent.
Edman’s other positions so far this year include three games (two starts) at third base, and two (one start) at second base.
Tommy Edman’s switch-hitting
Another positive development from Edman having ankle surgery is the equal mount of success he’s enjoying from both sides of the plate.
“I feel like this is kind of one of the rare times where both swings feel good, both from the right and left,” Edman said over the weekend. “It’s really tough to maintain both swings over the course of the season, so I’m just happy that I feel that way right now.”
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