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The Dodgers Will Have a Position Battle in Spring Training After All

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Katherine Wacker | Last updated Feb 18, 2026 8:51 PM ET

Despite having the deepest roster in franchise history, the Los Angeles Dodgers will have to plug a hole for a bit. There were optimistic prognostications that Tommy Edman would be healthy enough to start on Opening Day. However, discretion being the better part of valor, the Dodgers don’t want to rush his comeback when they don’t have to. Edman will remain on the injured list at the start of the season, and Los Angeles will have a position battle at second base. Here is a look at a plethora of options.

Second Base Options for the Dodgers to Start the Season

The Vet

Miguel Rojas is entering his final season before retiring. The 37-year-old veteran has etched his name in Dodgers history with his World Series heroics. Rojas plays Gold-Glove-caliber defense when inserted into the lineup. However, he is normally a bench player inserted against left-handed pitchers. His batting average against right-handed starters hovers around a .200 batting average. Unless there is an unforeseen injury, Rojas will not be getting the bulk of the starts at second base.

A Former Red

Santiago Espinal was recently signed to a minor-league contract, perhaps in anticipation of Edman’s prolonged absence. Espinal spent 2025 with the Cincinnati Reds. A versatile defender, Espinal can play all infield positions with the exception of first base. In his first season in the majors, he hit for a batting average of .300. Since then, he has struggled to find his offensive stroke. He does have 107 runs created plus against left-handed pitchers, and could give Max Muncy a day off once in a while.

Another all-star signing for Dodgers. They can’t stop Santiago espinal https://t.co/X2DY2aSN93

— Y P (@imYash07) February 16, 2026

The Top Prospect

Alex Freeland has been rated as one of the top prospects in the Dodgers’ minor-league system. He is a great defensive infielder who can also play multiple positions. He got his first chance in the big leagues in 2025 thanks to multiple injuries. The standout prospect displayed his impressive defensive range when he was plugged into the infield.

However, he struggled at the plate, hitting under .200. He struck out in nearly one-third of his plate appearances, and isn’t known for his speed. However, he showed pop when he ran into one, and he does have the ability to take a walk. The Dodgers may give him more of a chance this year, simply out of necessity. He did show that he could swing the bat at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he hit .263 and had 16 home runs. Freeland has potential, but it has yet to translate to the majors. He may get a bigger chance to succeed in 2026.

The Korean Star

Hyeseong Kim has been known for his defense since his time in the Korean Baseball Organization. His defensive prowess and versatility are so impressive that manager Dave Roberts has said that Kim could see some playing time in center field this year. Kim opened last season in the minors, working on his hitting. Soon after, he was called up. Early on, he was hitting for an average over.350. His speed out of the batter’s box proved to be an invaluable asset as well. Unfortunately, Kim sustained an injury and was a shadow of himself the rest of the year. His rate of contact dropped precipitously, and he was relegated to the bench. He will probably get the lion’s share of opportunity at second base since he is left-handed. It will be interesting to see if he can rebound.

The door at second base is wide open for the Dodgers. Who will make the most of his opportunity?

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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