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Tommy Edman has been given a more defined timeline for his return as his recovery continues to lag, per Katie Woo at Dodgers Nation. The lack of progress in Edman’s rehab has prompted the Dodgers to set clearer benchmarks for the versatile infielder, who has been sidelined and unable to contribute to a roster already stretched thin by injuries.

Edman’s value to this club is hard to overstate. The 30-year-old switch-hitter was a key acquisition when the Dodgers traded for him from the Cardinals ahead of the 2024 deadline, and he played a significant role in L.A.’s World Series championship run that October. His ability to play shortstop, second base, and center field at a high level made him one of the most versatile players on the roster. After re-signing with the Dodgers, Edman was expected to be a crucial piece of the 2026 puzzle — a player who could slot into multiple positions and give the lineup a dependable bat from both sides of the plate. His career .263/.310/.397 slash line doesn’t jump off the page, but the defensive flexibility and baserunning ability elevate his overall contribution well beyond what the raw numbers suggest.

The fact that his rehab has stalled is genuinely concerning. We’ve already been dealing with the losses of Blake Snell (elbow surgery, return unclear), Tyler Glasnow (shut down from throwing after a setback), and Teoscar Hernández (targeting a May 25 return). The Dodgers have been managing an injury list that reads like a starting lineup, and Edman’s delayed return only compounds that problem. When a player’s recovery isn’t tracking the way the medical staff expects, you start bracing for the possibility that the timeline extends further. That’s where we are right now.

Edman’s absence has forced the Dodgers to lean more heavily on other infield options and limits the defensive flexibility that Dave Roberts values so highly in constructing his lineups. The club has managed to stay competitive — our lineup still has plenty of firepower — but the margins get thinner without players like Edman available. His defense alone at multiple premium positions changes how Roberts can mix and match, especially late in games.

I’ll be watching this one closely. A clearer timeline is better than ambiguity, but “lack of progress” is never the phrase you want attached to a rehab update. The Dodgers need Edman back and healthy for the long haul, not just for the next few weeks. If the recovery continues to stall, we could be looking at a situation where the front office has to explore external options to fill the versatility gap Edman leaves behind. For now, we wait — but the clock is ticking, and this roster can’t afford to keep absorbing hits like this without reinforcements.

Source(s): Katie Woo (Dodgers Nation) | First reported: May 21, 2026 12:00 AM UTC-07:00

God Bless and Go Dodgers