LOS ANGELES — Three weeks after Kiké Hernandez made an abbreviated comeback, the Dodgers will try a different route for adding some defensive versatility.
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On Tuesday, Tommy Edman will be added to the active roster for the first time this season after undergoing an ankle procedure over the winter.
Hernandez and Edman both played through injuries last fall to help the Dodgers to their second consecutive World Series championship. They both paid the price by going through long rehab programs this year. Hernandez had elbow surgery after the World Series ended.
Manager Dave Roberts said he will give Edman his first start of the season in Wednesday’s series finale when the Tampa Bay Rays send left-hander Shane McClanahan to the mound.
Edman played 14 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City during his rehab assignment, batting .275 with one home run and three RBIs.
“From what I understand, (he is) not limited, and he’s moving well, recovering well,” Roberts said. “We got him on the infield we got in the outfield, back-to-back, all that stuff.”
Edman is expected to be used at second base, left field and even at third base moving forward. His time at third will come when Max Muncy needs a day off.
Since joining the Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline, Edman has batted .280 with a .672 OPS, 19 home runs and 69 RBIs in 134 regular-season games. He has also played in 32 postseason games, batting .274 with a .739 OPS, four home runs and 21 RBIs. He was voted the MVP of the 2024 National League Championship Series against the New York Mets.
All that production with the Dodgers came as he was playing through ankle discomfort.
“It’s been a few years just nagging, and even with the surgery, they were still kind of trying to get over the hump with feeling good,” Roberts said. “It was important just so we can get it behind us. When he comes back, we’re gonna be mindful of playing time, and (it will) probably be a three-or-four-time-a-week situation for a while.”
Now comes another roster decision.
When Hernandez returned, Santiago Espinal was designated for assignment, but he was brought back again when Hernandez went down again after two games with an oblique strain.
Other roster options include second baseman Alex Freeland and first baseman/left fielder Ryan Ward.
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VOTE OF APPROVAL
Shohei Ohtani leads all MLB players in All-Star Game voting after the first update of balloting was released on Monday. In addition to Ohtani, who is the leading vote getter at designated hitter, three other Dodgers also lead at their respective positions.
Freddie Freeman leads at first base while Max Muncy leads at third. And Andy Pages is the leading vote getter among NL outfielders.
Pages was benched during last year’s World Series, but came off the bench for a key moment when he made a catch on the warning track to send Game 7 into extra innings, where the Dodgers finished off their title.
Pages’ offseason work has led to a .273 batting average, 15 home runs and an NL-best 56 RBIs in 71 games entering Monday’s contest.
“As we all know, he’s not a self-promoter at all,” Roberts said. “He just wants to play baseball, and so for the fans to recognize that, they’re getting it right, as far as the person, the talent, the performance. So that’s really good to see.”
All-Star Game voting will take place in two phases, with the first set to run through June 25. The second will take place from June 29-July 2. Rosters for the July 14 game in Philadelphia will be revealed on July 4.
COMEBACK TRAIL
Closer Edwin Diaz, who had loose bodies removed in his elbow in April, has progressed to playing catch and is expected to have the first bullpen session of his rehab later this week. But Roberts said it is unlikely he will return before the All-Star break.
Left fielder Teoscar Hernandez (hamstring) could be ready to go out on a minor-league rehab assignment by the weekend. Right-hander Tyler Glasnow (back) has not made any recent progress, but left-hander Blake Snell (elbow) is playing catch and will face hitters soon, according to Roberts.
TAKING CHARGE
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh met with Roberts before Monday’s game and was in the outfield shagging fly balls during batting practice. Noted Chargers fans like pitcher Emmet Sheehan and Edman each spent time with Harbaugh.
Roberts, who attended high school in the San Diego area, also had claimed allegiance to the Chargers. But he also has a bond with Rams head coach Sean McVay, leading him to claim recently that he has backed off rooting interests for one specific team.
UP NEXT
Rays (RHP Drew Rasmussen, 6-2, 2.71 ERA) at Dodgers (LHP Justin Wrobleski, 7-2, 2.95 ERA), Tuesday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM, 1020 AM
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