Tommy Edman set to make his long-awaited Dodger return

Tommy Edman underwent right ankle surgery in November 2025 that has kept him away from the field in 2026. (Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Dodgers)

by Senji Torrey

Tommy Edman will make his return to the Dodger lineup on Wednesday after a right ankle surgery sidelined him for the first three months of the season.

“It’s been too long,” Edman said. “(I’ve) just been the best cheerleader I can be, and now I get to actually contribute.”

Edman makes his return after a three-week stint with Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City. He slashed .275/.351/.392/.743 with a home run and three RBI in 14 games.

“It definitely got a lot better in the first couple weeks, and then by the time the third week came around, it felt totally normal,” Edman said about his progression in Triple-A.

The 31-year-old underwent right ankle surgery in November after the team’s 2025 championship run.

Edman has been battling the ongoing right ankle injury since the Dodgers acquired him on July 29,2024 from the St. Louis Cardinals.

“After speaking with the doctor, we determined that (the surgery) was going to have a high success (rate) and high probability of getting back to 100 percent,” Edman said. “The good thing was I saw progress with every step along the way. It just wasn’t as fast as I expected.”

The second baseman’s right ankle sidelined him for two injured list stints in May and August last season. While the early-season inflammation kept him out for just two weeks, the August sprain sidelined him for over a month.

Despite the setbacks, Edman contributed handily to the Dodgers’ efforts in 2025. While he played most of his games at second base, Edman also filled in at third base and center field. He slashed .225/.274/.382/.655 as a switch-hitter in 2025.

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Manager Dave Roberts plans to use Edman in this flex capacity — slotting him primarily at second base, but also giving him time at third base and even left field.

The 2024 National League Championship Series MVP’s return will add even more depth to the Dodgers’ lineup.

“(It) gives guys some opportunities, (like) some younger guys. I think that’s great,” Roberts said. “You have guys like Tommy and Kiké (Hernández), and making them buy into their whatever roles that we have for them, and they’ve done that really positively.”

It will also give the Dodgers flexibility with Miguel Rojas as a starter or pinch-hitter/defensive replacement.

“He’s one of our better hitters versus left-handed pitching, so if there’s an opportunity to get him in there to get three at-bats versus a starter, then I’m going to think very closely about that.” Roberts said.