Tommy Edman Activated, Justin Dean Optioned

The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Tommy Edman off the 10-day injured list and optioned Justin Dean to Triple-A Oklahoma City before their series finale against the Colorado Rockies.

Edman had been out since Aug. 4 due to a sprained right ankle, which has given him reoccurring troubles dating back to last season. Edman first sprained it last year while on a rehab assignment for the right wrist surgery he had in 2023.

The utility man again injured his ankle earlier this year while sliding into second base and landed on the IL on May 3 due to right ankle inflammation.

Edman later aggravated the ankle while running the bases against the Boston Red Sox, and was a late scratch from the lineup on July 28. He initially avoided the injured list but tweaked the ankle one week later and was shut down at that point.

Edman previously avoided the IL in early June after tweaking the ankle during a game against the New York Mets.

Due to that history, Edman didn’t rush his recovery process to avoid any more setbacks with the hopes of being available as a center field option. The Dodgers also don’t plan to move him between the infield and outfield to take some of the wear off his ankle.

The 30-year-old has hit .228/.281/.396 with 13 doubles, 12 home runs, 44 RBI and 43 runs scored, posting an 87 wRC+ and 1.3 WAR so far this season.

Dodgers option Justin Dean for Tommy Edman

Dean was the obvious candidate for the Dodgers to option for Edman.

Since being recalled on Aug. 8, Dean has been used exclusively as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner by the Dodgers. He’s appeared in 17 games while only making two plate appearances, and he picked up one stolen base with the club.

The Dodgers added Dean with the primary purpose of improving their outfield defense, but with Edman back, he figures to play the majority of the time in center field.

Dean hit .274/.370/.426 with six home runs, 55 runs, 31 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 81 games in Triple-A this season.

He joined the Dodgers organization during the offseason by signing a Minor League contract, and he is a former 17th-round pick by the Atlanta Braves in the 2018 Draft.