The Los Angeles Dodgers are far from full health in terms of regulars, but they are days away from welcoming Tommy Edman back for the first time this season.
Edman began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on May 26, at which point manager Dave Roberts said he would exhaust the full 20 days permitted for a position player. Sunday would be Edman’s 20th day and final day of his rehab assignment.
“I think if everything goes well for Tommy, we’d expect him back Tuesday,” Roberts said on SportsNet LA.
Entering the Comets’ game against the Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox affiliate) on Saturday, Edman has made 12 starts. Thus far he’s 10-for-42 (.238) with one double, one triple, one home run and six RBI.
It’s possible the Dodgers won’t have Edman play Sunday in order to give him two full days of rest prior to getting activated off the 60-day injured list. The fact that he’s been able to regularly play for Oklahoma City is an encouraging sign considering Edman dealt with lingering right ankle soreness at various times during his recovery process.
The bulk of Edman’s starts for Oklahoma City have come at second base (five), but he’s also started twice in left field and center field, and once at third base. He additionally served as the Comets’ designated hitter in two games.
Roberts recently said Edman could be an option to play left field for the Dodgers as they remain without Teoscar Hernández since he suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain on May 28.
Dodgers face roster decision with Tommy Edman’s return
Edman started the season on the 10-day injured list and upon getting transferred to the 60-day IL on May 9, it made May 24 the earliest he could be activated.
Edman’s rehab process at the time of the paper move made little impact as Roberts commented at the time he was on a “slow program.”
Now with a return on the horizon, the Dodgers face yet another roster decision. Alex Freeland and Ryan Ward are candidates to be optioned, but that still would require a secondary move to make room for Edman on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
Roster moves could be opened in one fell swoop by designating Santiago Espinal for assignment, but the Dodgers have demonstrated they value having his right-handed bat on the bench.
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