Monday, October 21, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
Sunday, as the Los Angeles Dodgers won the pennant by beating the New York Mets in the NLCS in six games, Tommy Edman won the NLCS MVP. For the first time since 2020, Dodger shortstop won the NLCS MVP.
Tommy Edman started the 2024 season with the Saint Louis Cardinals but has an injured wrist. He didn’t play until he became a Dodger. During his rehabilitation assignment, he injured his ankle. When Dodger president Andrew Friedman picked up Tommy Edman at the trading deadline, many baseball-knowledgeable people and baseball pundits were skeptical.
Before Edman became a Dodger, he hadn’t played in the 2024 season. He made his Dodger debut on August 19th. During the regular season, he had a .237 batting average with 6 home runs and 20 RBI. Even in the regular season, when the Dodgers needed a hit, Edman delivered.
Edman’s defense is elite at several positions. He can play second base, shortstop, and center field. When Miguel Rojas couldn’t play shortstop during the NLCS, Edman stepped in wonderfully. He helped with a run prevention, crucial in the NLCS. Edman should be at shortstop during the World Series even if Rojas could be on the World Series roster.
During the NLCS, Edman had a .407 batting average and had 11 RBI. In Game 6, he had a two-run blast and had 4 RBI. During the NLCS, Edman had at least one hit in every game.
When Corey Seager had a magnificent NLCS in 2020 against the Atlanta Braves, everyone celebrated Seager and urged the Dodgers to sign their homegrown shortstop to a long lucrative contract.
Edman is a utility player, switch hitter, who is a player under the radar. He is a much better at defense at several positions than Seager. He is a dynamic hitter. The Dodgers need to sign Edman to a long-term lucrative contract extension.
