GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Dodgers had spent the offseason preparing for one of their key pieces to miss time to open the season, but manager Dave Roberts made it official on Monday: Utility man Tommy Edman will start the year on the injured list as he continues to recover from right ankle surgery.
Edman had dealt with nagging ankle issues for the past couple of years. The ankle landed him on the IL twice in 2025, and when he returned from the second stint, he was almost exclusively limited to playing the infield until a prolonged slump from Andy Pages led Roberts to start Edman in center field for the final two games of the World Series.
In November, Edman sought a long-term solution for his troublesome ankle and opted to undergo surgery, which involved a ligament repair and removing bone spurs. He said the last time his ankle felt close to full health was March/April 2025, when he recorded an .818 OPS and slugged eight homers before tweaking the ankle for the first time.
"I had a month last year," Edman said of having a healthy ankle. "Hopefully I have a full season this year."
For much of the offseason, Edman was not ruling out the possibility of being ready in time for Opening Day. His rehab has proceeded as scheduled. He's been out of a walking boot for just over a month, and he's resumed taking swings and throwing. He's also working through a running progression, which has given his ankle the most trouble it’s had in recent years.
"Opening Day was going to be a really aggressive goal," Edman said, "just in case it happened to be, like, we recover faster than we expected it to. I think everything is based on past instances with this kind of surgery. … I feel like I'm on schedule with that, and we’ll just kind of see how it goes with each step along the way."
While Edman is not expected to be one of the heavy hitters in the Dodgers' lineup, his versatility as a switch-hitter and an option in both the infield and outfield makes him particularly difficult to replace. He should be the primary option at second base once healthy, as well as a secondary option to Pages in center field. He also played some third base when Max Muncy was injured last year.
Kiké Hernández could normally fill the utility aspect of Edman's role, but he, too, will begin the season on the IL while recovering from left elbow surgery. Here's how the Dodgers could address both second base and center field without Edman:
Second base
Veteran Miguel Rojas should be the primary right-handed-hitting option, and Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland should be in the running to see time there as well.
Kim hit .280 with a .699 OPS in 71 games last year, his first season in the Major Leagues after starring in the KBO the previous eight years. He primarily faced right-handed pitching, and his numbers took a dip when he sustained bursitis in his left shoulder. When he returned from the IL, his role was limited down the stretch.
Freeland ended last year as the Dodgers' No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. He hit .190 with a .602 OPS in 29 big league games, seeing time at both second and third base. A switch-hitter, Freeland was used more from the left-hand side during his stint in Los Angeles.
In that light, Kim and Freeland are essentially competing for the same role this spring.
"I think that’s OK to say," Roberts said. "Competition is a good thing."
Center field
Pages is the starter in center field, but there is little depth behind him without Edman on the roster. That's not a big problem when Pages is swinging it well, but the 25-year-old had some streaky stretches in what was overall a strong offensive season.
Kim could be part of the solution in center field as well, which may give him a slight edge over Freeland for an Opening Day roster spot. Kim made 17 appearances (nine starts) in center field last year and didn't make an error in 85 1/3 innings at the position. His speed is an asset there, but his lack of experience makes him a question mark.
Beyond Kim, the Dodgers also have defensive specialist Michael Siani. They claimed him twice off waivers this offseason, and he might just be their most proven option in center behind Pages on the 40-man roster.