LOS ANGELES — Tommy Edman was activated off the 60-day injured list on Tuesday after missing the first 73 games of the season following right ankle surgery in November. They get back a multi-positional player who started 32 of 33 postseason games in his first two years with Los Angeles.
To make room on both the active and 40-man rosters, infielder Santiago Espinal was designated for assignment.
The Dodgers were methodical with Edman’s rehabilitation from surgery, hoping to finally put behind them the injury
that has plagued the switch-hitting utility player since 2024, even before the St. Louis Cardinals traded him to Los Angeles.
As Edman said of his expected rehab during Dodgers fan fest in January, “I want to make sure I’m a full go, and don’t have to worry about [the ankle] again the rest of the year.”
Edman had a busy three weeks on a rehab assignment for Triple-A Oklahoma City, playing 14 of 18 games for the Comets. He hit .275/.351/.392 with a 94 wRC+ in 57 plate appearances, with a home run, triple, double, and stolen base. Edman fared better batting left-handed while on rehab, hitting .300/.378/.450 in 45 plate appearances while he had two hits in 11 at-bats batting right-handed in Triple-A.
During his seven-year career, Edman’s splits have gone the other way, hitting .273/.314/.495 with a 118 wRC+ batting righty against left-handed pitching, and .254/.313/.373 with a 90 wRC+ batting left-handed.
With Oklahoma City, Edman started five games at second base, made two starts each at third base, left field, and center field, and also started three times as designated hitter. He’s expected to play multiple positions now that he’s back with the Dodgers, and will start on Wednesday afternoon against Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan.
Espinal hit .268/.276/.375 in 36 games and 60 plate appearances with the Dodgers, with seven starts at third base, four starts at second base, and one at designated hitter. Espinal was previously designated for assignment this season on May 25, but returned within a few days after injuries to both Kiké Hernández and Teoscar Hernández.
Edman’s history against left-handed pitching made Espinal’s role redundant.
“Espy’s been great for us, but the fit right now with our ballclub, it just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense,” manager Dave Roberts said after Monday night’s game.
Now with both Edman and Alex Freeland active, the Dodgers have two switch-hitters — Freeland is stronger batting left-handed — with plenty of versatility. Freeland can play all over the infield, and Edman can add outfield as well to his infield duties.
Espinal’s second Dodgers tenure ended with a four-game hit streak, with five singles in his last eight at-bats.
