<\/p>\n
\n Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tommy Edman, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo\/Derrick Tuskan) <\/p>\n
Versatility, speed and a flashy glove have always been part of Tommy Edman\u2019s game. But for much of his career, so too have injuries.<\/p>\n
The former Gold Glove-winning utility man for the Los Angeles Dodgers recently returned to the lineup after another stint on the injured list delayed his start to the season. A sprained ankle suffered in 2024, while he was rehabbing a wrist injury, has continued to cause issues over the past few seasons, and he underwent surgery for it last offseason.<\/p>\n
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Since returning, he\u2019s batting .395 (15-for-38)<\/a> and has already been used in the outfield, at second and third base, and even as a designated hitter. The switch-hitting 31-year-old Californian provides valuable flexibility for manager Dave Roberts<\/a>.<\/p>\n
He can also provide occasional power, as he showed with a three-run home run<\/a> in Tuesday\u2019s 9-3 win over the Athletics \u2014 one of his team-leading four hits on the night.<\/p>\n
\nTommy for three! pic.twitter.com\/orNcYPsir7<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Edman enjoyed five seasons with the Cardinals (2019-23), who drafted him in the sixth round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Stanford, winning a Gold Glove Award in 2021. He was then sent to the Dodgers at the trade deadline in 2024, and caught fire during the second half of the season and playoffs. He was named the 2024 National League Championship Series MVP<\/a> while helping Los Angeles reach the World Series, where the franchise won the first of back-to-back championships.<\/p>\n
The Dodgers have a commanding lead in the NL West again this season and are hoping Edman\u2019s return aids in their quest to win a third straight World Series. Meanwhile, after the surgery and recovery, Edman is hoping his ankle woes are finally behind him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s obviously something I\u2019ve dealt with the past two years, so getting the surgery was a tough decision because I knew I was going to be out for a little bit,\u201d he told reporters last month<\/a>.\u00a0\u201cBut after speaking with the doctor, we determined it was going to have a high probability of getting back to 100%, I decided to go through with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s feeling great now. It took maybe a little bit longer than I expected, but I\u2019m back to feeling normal again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Feeling normal hasn\u2019t been as consistent as he\u2019d like. There was a stretch at the beginning of the 2025 season where he \u201cfelt pretty good,\u201d until he sprained the ankle again at the end of April. He plans to wear a brace on it indefinitely.<\/p>\n
The most challenging part of the injury and recovery process has been patience.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith surgery, a lot of times it\u2019s not a super linear progression,\u201d Edman told the group of reporters. \u201cSo just having some ups and downs and just having the faith that it was going to get back to 100% eventually and just having the patience to let the whole process play out.\u201d<\/p>\n
He spoke about that faith while wearing a shirt that read, \u201cJesus Over Baseball.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edman\u2019s journey of faith in Christ began as a younger baseball player, when he had faith in God but felt it get crowded out has he prioritized his sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw these people who I aspired to be like, and I realized that the one commonality that they had was that their eyes were fully set on God,\u201d Edman said in an \u201cI Once Was\u201d video<\/a> produced by Sports Spectrum. \u201cI realized that something needed to change if I wanted to live up to my full potential that God had in store for me.\u201d<\/p>\n