With confirmation on Monday from manager Dave Roberts that Tommy Edman will begin the season on the injured list, naturally conversation turned to what is now an open competition in Dodgers camp for playing time at second base.
Miguel Rojas will be in the mix, as will veteran Santiago Espinal, who signed a minor league deal on Monday. Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland, who each made their MLB debuts in 2025, will also vie for playing time and a potential roster spot on a team that will be without both Edman and Kiké Hernández to open the season.
Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register has more on the second base battle, including comments from Kim on offseason adjustments:
He indicated Monday that the Dodgers have suggested some more changes.
“The swing changes we made last year, I would say I felt about 70% comfortable,” Kim said through an interpreter. “And then this offseason and spring training, we were able to recognize some of the other stuff that we needed to work on, so I’m working very hard to make those changes again this year.”
In case you were wondering, six different Dodgers started at second base last year between the regular season and postseason: Edman 74 starts, Rojas 38, Kim 32, Freeland 11, Hernández nine, and Chris Taylor once.
Walker Buehler’s first season after the Dodgers saw him post a 4.93 ERA and 5.41 xERA in 126 innings with the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. He was active during the National League Division Series against the Dodgers but did not pitch. Now, the veteran right-hander signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres, trying to crack their depleted starting rotation. Kevin Acee at the San Diego Union-Tribune has more on Buehler’s new deal.
Monday was legendary sportscaster Jim Hill’s 50th anniversary on the airwaves in Los Angeles.
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