Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles suffered a tough-luck injury in 2017, as he tore his ACL chasing after a fly ball in May, forcing him to undergo surgery and ending his season. The double broke up Julio Urias’ no-hit bid.
With Toles being out for so long and the Dodgers having such a successful 2017 season, he became somewhat of a forgotten man. Toles went into Spring Training this year on a mission to prove he was healthy and still the player he was pre-injury, and now that the spring has come to a close, he believes he accomplished that.
“I think it was pretty good,” Toles said of his Spring Training performance. “Showed that I was healthy, hit OK, defense was pretty good. Now I’ve just got to sit by the phone and see what happens.”
With Opening Day all but here, the Dodgers front office and coaching staff still has one decision to make in regards to their 25-man active roster, and that is to carry Toles, Kyle Farmer or Joc Pederson as the final two position players.
Despite Toles outperforming Pederson this spring, it is looking like the spot will be given to Pederson, with Toles going down to Triple-A Oklahoma City in order to receive more regular at-bats.
If that is the case, Toles is going to do whatever he can to be called up as soon as possible. “I mean, yeah. I don’t have a choice,” he said of potentially beginning the season in the Minors. “Whatever they want me to do, I’m with it. Just trying to go out there, do my best and help the team out. I’m just going to be ready whenever my name is called.”
In 25 games this spring, Toles hit .283/.286/.566 with three home runs, 10 RBI and two stolen bases. Even if he is not on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster, there is no question that Toles will contribute at the Major League level this season.
