ST. LOUIS — Tommy Edman has achieved nearly the whole lot a participant can do at Busch Stadium, however as he arrived with the Dodgers on Friday afternoon, he realized he had one thing to study. Edman, who was drafted by the Cardinals in 2016 and made his Main League debut with the crew in 2019, didn’t know discover the batting cage — or something in any respect — within the guests’ clubhouse.
“Strolling into the doorway to the stadium, you are available in via the identical entrance within the car parking zone however [go] via a special door,” Edman defined. “I used to be like, ‘OK, that is completely different.’”
He delivered his first profession hit towards his former crew with a pointy single to proper subject within the high of the seventh inning, reaching first base to search out former teammate Willson Contreras ready with a welcoming embrace.
“It was actually cool,” Edman mentioned of the ovation within the aftermath of a 5-0 Dodgers loss. “Simply to get acknowledged after enjoying for this crew for quite a lot of years, it was a very particular second for me, for positive. I’m very grateful for everyone who confirmed up at present.”
There are loads of variations for Edman because the final time he was at Busch Stadium. He was traded to Los Angeles on the 2024 Deadline in a three-way deal which noticed the Dodgers ship Miguel Vargas and two Minor Leaguers to the White Sox in trade for Edman and Michael Kopech, and on the time, he was on the injured checklist, recovering from wrist surgical procedure.
Inside 4 months, he was a world champion and the MVP of the NLCS, a useful piece of the Dodgers’ lineup, and signed a long-term contract extension which can hold the San Diego native near house for the majority of his remaining profession.
“I suppose it’s already been virtually a yr now that I’ve been with the Dodgers,” he mentioned. “It’s undoubtedly passed by in a short time, however on the similar time, I really feel like I’ve gotten very shut with all people within the Dodgers’ group.”
Edman gained his solely profession Gold Glove with the Cardinals, receiving the award at second base in 2021. In his 5 seasons as a Cardinal, Edman posted a .265 batting common and .726 OPS, stealing 106 bases and hitting 53 homers whereas supplying top-notch protection at each place apart from first base, pitcher and catcher.
“I am only a younger, 24-year-old man simply strolling into the clubhouse,” Edman recalled of his debut with St. Louis. “I wasn’t an enormous prospect or something, so simply being tremendous nervous and now coming again right here, it is undoubtedly — I really feel form of a way of familiarity.”
Requested what precisely Edman would say he’s now, if he was younger then, the 30-year-old cracked a wry smile and provided, “being skilled. Skilled and sensible.”
He additionally made historical past in 2023 by representing Group Korea within the World Baseball Traditional, the place he was teammates with now-fellow Dodger Hyeseong Kim. Edman, whose mom was born in Korea, was the primary American-born participant to signify that nation in a significant worldwide event.
As a result of being injured when traded, Edman didn’t have the chance to say a correct goodbye to the followers in St. Louis on the sector, and he was trying ahead to the possibility to show how a lot he appreciated the assist he acquired over his 5 seasons as a Cardinal.
“It was form of abrupt final yr, getting traded on the Deadline simply seemingly out of nowhere,” he defined. “Haven’t been again in St. Louis since then.”
“I believe it’s going to be emotional,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned pregame. “It’s the primary crew and solely crew that gave him a shot early, proper? Plenty of mates with the coaches, gamers, the followers admire him as these followers admire each participant. I believe it’s going to be considerably emotional. It’s gonna be nice.”
One other damage virtually spoiled his return. Edman hung out on the injured checklist earlier this season with a sprained proper ankle, which he irritated earlier this week towards the Mets. He entered as a pinch-hitter within the seventh inning Tuesday, however didn’t seem Wednesday.
Whereas there have been issues he could be compelled to return to the IL, relaxation did the trick, and Edman mentioned Friday that he was enjoying at full power, and was greater than able to make his return.
“One of many biggest issues about Cardinals followers is simply appreciating the historical past, what former gamers have poured into their time right here,” Edman mentioned. “It’s simply nice seeing Cardinals followers once more. They’ve obtained nice assist for the crew, and I’ve nothing however good phrases for these guys.”
And so they, for him — Edman’s first plate look was heralded by the group coming to its toes in unison to supply a loud cheer. Edman tipped his helmet, one final acknowledgement of the place the place his profession started, and went proper again to the place it continues.
