LOS ANGELES, CA — The quiet confidence of the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers was instantly flipped to full-on urgency when utility star Tommy Edman stepped forward with a major injury update. The revelation: Edman underwent surgery on his persistent right ankle injury in mid-November, turning lingering concern into a definite early-offseason setback.
While General Manager Brandon Gomes expressed confidence that Edman will be ready “around the start of spring training,” the necessity of the procedure reshapes expectations for the Dodgers’ early-season plans and leaves the clubhouse recalibrating on the fly. The countdown begins as everyone waits to see how this setback affects the road ahead for the team’s key defensive anchor.
The Twist: The Ankle Was the Problem
The right ankle injury was a ghost that haunted Edman throughout the entire 2025 season, limiting his mobility, impacting his offense, and forcing him to two separate stints on the Injured List (IL) in May and August.
- The Surgery: Edman confirmed on ESPN LA radio that the surgery was needed to “fix it for good” after dealing with the issue for two seasons, signaling that he had been playing significantly hurt for much of 2025.
- The Impact: His offensive numbers suffered dramatically: he finished 2025 with a career-low .225 AVG and .656 OPS, a far cry from the performance expected after he signed a five-year, $74 million extension. The Dodgers are banking on the surgery to return him to his 2022 form (106 wRC+, 32 stolen bases).
Reshaping Early-Season Expectations
The most significant twist is how this surgery affects the Dodgers’ positional planning for 2026, especially as they pursue other high-profile free agents:
- Second Base Instability: Edman was the presumed everyday second baseman. While the team expects him to be ready for Spring Training, any setback in his rehab will force them to rely on less certain internal options like Hyeseong Kim or top prospect Alex Freeland for the start of the season.
- Outfield Depth Dilemma: Edman’s ability to play center field (CF) was critical to the Dodgers’ flexible defensive alignment. With the team heavily pursuing star outfielder Kyle Tucker, the temporary absence of Edman’s versatility creates a major hole. If they miss on Tucker, they may be forced to find another short-term, everyday outfielder instead of counting on Edman to cover multiple positions early on.
- The Stolen Base Gap: A key element of Edman’s game is his elite speed and baserunning. The ankle injury severely limited this, as he only attempted four stolen bases in 2025 after consistently logging over 25 in previous seasons. The Dodgers need a fully healthy Edman to restore that dimension to their offense.
The urgency is now palpable in Los Angeles. While the Dodgers are expected to cruise in the NL, Edman’s recovery timeline creates a potential point of vulnerability that the front office must address through the remainder of the offseason.
