The Los Angeles Dodgers’ biggest player in the National League Championship Series was also one of their littlest.
Tommy Edman, a 5-foot-10 utility player who wasn’t even healthy enough to play when the Dodgers acquired him in a three-team July trade, was chosen Most Valuable Player of the NLCS on Sunday, when the Dodgers eliminated the New York Mets with a 10-5 win.
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Edman capped a marvelous series with a 2-for-5, four-RBI performance in the Dodgers’ pennant-clinching victory. He went 11 for 27 (.407) in the series with 11 RBIs and a .630 slugging percentage.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 20: Tommy Edman #25 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hoists the MVP trophy after the Dodgers defeated the New York Mets to win Game Six of the National League Championship… LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 20: Tommy Edman #25 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hoists the MVP trophy after the Dodgers defeated the New York Mets to win Game Six of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
The Mets were leading 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Edman delivered a two-run double off Sean Manaea, giving the Dodgers the lead for good. It was the first lead change in any game in the series.
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In the third inning, Edman — a switch hitter batting right-handed — hit a two-run home run against Manaea to extend the Dodgers’ lead.
Tommy Edman is your NLCS MVP after collecting 11 RBI in the series!#MLBTonight breaks down the switch hitter’s versatility and taking advantage of his opportunities at the plate this Postseason. pic.twitter.com/ZcvvALr9E9
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 21, 2024
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts moved Edman up to the cleanup spot in the batting order over the course of the series. Edman batted ninth in Game 1, eighth in Game 2, sixth in Game 3, and fourth in Game 4 once first baseman Freddie Freeman was sidelined with an ankle injury.
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Edman moved down to fifth in the order when Freeman returned for Game 5, a 12-6 Dodgers loss that shifted the series back to Los Angeles. Roberts moved Edman back to the cleanup spot Sunday on a day off for Freeman.
The performance was a far cry from Edman’s first appearance in a League Championship Series, in 2019 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He went 0-for-14 in four games against the Dodgers in that series.
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Edman became a Dodger in a massive three-team trade on July 29. He was hardly the marquee name in the deal.
Los Angeles received Edman from the Cardinals and right-handed pitcher Michael Kopech from the Chicago White Sox. The Cardinals got right-handed pitcher Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham from the White Sox. The White Sox acquired utility man Miguel Vargas from the Dodgers as well as two of the Dodgers’ top-20 prospects, per Baseball America — infielders Jeral Perez and Alexander Albertus.
“I’ve never hit cleanup in my life before this year.” 😅
Tommy Edman joins the show after his stellar performance this series earned him the NLCS MVP 🏆 pic.twitter.com/dgvBbbHtzr
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 21, 2024
Edman was on the injured list at the time of the trade, still recovering from offseason surgery on his wrist. He was activated Aug. 19 and slashed .237/.294/.417 in 37 games, with six home runs and 20 RBIs. He also stole six bases in six attempts.
For more MLB postseason news, visit Newsweek Sports.
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