Tommy Edman declared himself fully recovered and ready to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 16, 2026, following ankle surgery and a three-week minor league rehab assignment with Oklahoma City.
Edman said during a press conference that the ankle issue had persisted for roughly two-plus years, tracing back to when he first sprained it during the 2024 season. "I'm back to feeling normal again," he stated, adding that he re-sprained the ankle in August 2025 while rounding bases and again at the end of April 2025 after a stretch at the beginning of that season where he had felt healthy. He noted that in the 2025 postseason, the ankle did not feel good during the first series against the Reds. After consulting with doctors, Edman explained, "we kind of determined that it was going to have a high probability of getting back to 100%," which led to his decision to undergo surgery.
Edman acknowledged that patience was the most challenging aspect of recovery, noting that surgical rehab is not a linear progression. He mentioned experiencing a plateau of roughly two months but said there were no actual setbacks. By the third week of his rehab assignment with Oklahoma City, he felt totally comfortable rounding bases — the same action that had re-injured the ankle. He also noted that he was able to take batting swings early in the recovery process, so his hitting preparation was not significantly disrupted, with running and cutting being the primary limitations.
Having discussed his positional role with Dodgers coaching and management, Edman expects to play third base, second base, and the outfield upon returning to the active roster. He also confirmed he will wear a brace going forward but will no longer need to tape the ankle heavily as he did in the 2025 season. Edman praised the depth contributions of Freeland, Kim, and Ward during his absence, calling it "really cool" to see them get opportunities and find success. He also noted that the Dodgers hold the second-best record in the National League.
At the press conference, Edman joked that his return had an unexpected benefit, saying that without him on the field, a collision between teammates PZ and Kik would never have occurred — adding with a laugh that it "saved the World Series." Edman had been the NLCS MVP in 2024 and said it had been a couple of months since he last played.