Tommy Edman's Biography
Thomas Hyunsu Edman, a renowned professional baseball utility player, was born on May 9, 1995. Primarily recognized for his dynamic performances for the Los Angeles Dodgers under Major League Baseball, Edman’s journey with the sport has been enriched by his previous experiences with the St. Louis Cardinals. Raised in San Diego, California, after his birth in Pontiac, Michigan, Edman’s first encounter with competitive baseball came in his college years, while studying at Stanford University.
Edman’s college career, lasting three seasons, was filled with remarkable achievements that were capped by his selection by the Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. Here, he was introduced to the minor league, a stepping stone that prepared him for his MLB debut in 2019. At the Cardinals, Edman rapidly climbed the ranks to become a member of the starting lineup, showcasing his versatile skills by playing both infield and outfield positions. His exceptional defensive abilities placed him in the spotlight in 2021, when he was awarded the Gold Glove Award as the National League’s top defensive second baseman. The same year marked an important transition in his career when he was traded by the Cardinals to the Dodgers, redefining his baseball journey.
Edman’s early recognition in baseball can be traced back to his time at La Jolla Country Day School in San Diego, California, which he graduated from in 2013. He was named to an All-Academic Team, highlighting his combination of academic and sporting prowess. His diligence to the sport continued to bloom at Stanford University, where he delivered commendable performances for the Stanford Cardinals.
His feats during his freshman year did not go unnoticed as he found himself playing in the New England Collegiate League for the Newport Gulls. Edman pitched an All-Star season and was hailed as the best defensive player. Following his sophomore season in 2015, he shifted his loyalties to the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League. His batting average of .304 and his recognition as starting second baseman for the East Division All-Star team were major highlights of his time with the Red Sox. Edman’s tenure there culminated with a league championship win.
In his junior year of 2016, Edman reestablished his contribution to Stanford Cardinals by starting in every game as a shortstop. His statistics for the season reflect his skillful display: a batting average of .286 with 24 RBIs, leading Stanford with 35 runs, 61 hits, four triples, and eight stolen bases in 54 games. For his splendid performance, he earned a spot on the Pac-12 Conference first team.
This succession of brilliant performances put Edman in the sights of the St. Louis Cardinals, who picked him in the sixth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. Signing up with the Cardinals meant a season with the State College Spikes, where his contributions spanned a .286 batting average, four home runs, 33 RBIs, and 19 successfully stolen bases in 22 attempts across 66 games. Edman was then named a New York-Penn League All-Star with the Spikes.
In 2017, Edman took to the field for the Peoria Chiefs, Palm Beach Cardinals, and Springfield Cardinals. His consistent scores included a batting average of .261 with five home runs and 55 RBIs in 119 games among the three teams. The following year, Edman began with the Springfield, winning his first Texas League All-Star title. He then caught attention by reaching base in 32 consecutive games, breaking Springfield’s all-time record. As his prowess soared, so did his reputation, leading to a promotion to the Memphis Redbirds at the season’s end.
A bright spot in Edman’s journey with Memphis Redbirds was the team’s win in the Pacific Coast League title. Apart from aiding this achievement, Edman was jointly awarded the MVP title of the PCL playoffs alongside teammate Randy Arozarena. Edman’s stats for that year, comprising of seven home runs, 41 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases in 35 attempts, projected his steadfast prominence in the field. To conclude the season, the Cardinals assigned him to the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League.
Edman’s 2019 season recommenced with the Memphis Redbirds, but his strong game illustrates his readied defenses with a batting average of .305, supplemented with seven home runs, 29 RBIs, and nine stolen bases over 49 games. This surge of success was instrumental in his promotion to Major Leagues on June 8. The same month, Edman’s star shone at Wrigley Field, where he debuted as pinch hitter against the Chicago Cubs. Thereafter, his first MLB hit came against Steven Matz of the New York Mets on June 14, followed by his first career home run against Tayron Guerrero of the Miami Marlins six days later. His capability to transfix the crowds was topped in July when he hit his first career grand slam against Robert Stephenson of the Cincinnati Reds. During his subsequent 92 regular season games for the Cardinals, Edman continued to impress with a staggering .304/.350/.500 slash line supported by 11 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 16 attempts. The game singled him out as the fastest runner among all major league third basemen at 29.4 feet/second.
During the pandemic-hit 2020 season, the Cardinals announced Edman to be their starting third baseman. Despite the shortened season, Edman managed to tally .250/.317/.368 with five home runs and 26 RBIs over 204 at-bats. He garnered three hits in the subsequent 2020 National League Wild Card Series. The following year saw Edman taking the baton as the club’s starting second baseman, a decision spurred by the departure of Kolten Wong and the introduction of Nolan Arenado. His stellar form was recognized with the Major League Baseball Player of the Week Award for the National League after he made a .426 batting average accessorized with two home runs during August 23-29.
The 2021 season saw Edman slashing .262/.308/.387 with 11 home runs, 56 RBIs, 41 doubles, and 30 stolen bases over 641 at-bats, performed in 159 games. His record of 41 doubles shared the second spot in the National League with Ozzie Albies, just one notch below Bryce Harper’s leading tally of 42. This buoyant year was punctuated with his Gold Glove Award win at second base, an achievement which caught the attention of the entire MLB when he was one amongst the five Cardinals to win the award that year. However, in a wild card game against the Dodgers, despite his three hits in five at-bats and two stolen bases, Cardinals lost to a walk-off home run.
Edman returned in 2022 seizing his position as the Cardinals’ starting second baseman. This season also saw his transition to a shortstop in mid-May, following the rearrangement of players which included the demotion of Paul DeJong and the call-up of Nolan Gorman. By June that year, Edman had hit his first career walk-off home run and RBI, leading his team to a 5-4 victory against the Cincinnati Reds. His overall stat of the season showed a .265/.324/.400 slash-line with 13 home runs, 57 RBIs, 31 doubles, and 32 stolen bases over 577 at-bats in 153 games. However, in the Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, despite his one hit in six at-bats, Cardinals lost in two games.
January 13, 2023, saw Edman commit to a one-year contract with the Cardinals worth $4.2 million, successfully avoiding salary arbitration. He performed exceptionally well that year, playing 153 games, mainly at shortstop, second base, and center field, and slashed .265 with 13 home runs, 57 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases.
The subsequent year brought another avoidance of salary arbitration, as Edman settled on a two-year deal worth $16.5 million with the Cardinals. However, he had to pause his training in spring due to renewed wrist discomfort following his wrist surgery. This resulted in a transfer to the 60-day injured list on May 6. But fortune found its way back to him on July 29 when he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a three-team deal. The deal also moved Michael Kopech and Oliver Gonzalez to the Dodgers, Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham to St. Louis, and Miguel Vargas, Alexander Albertus, and Jeral Pérez to the Chicago White Sox. He finally made his season debut with the Dodgers on August 19.
Edman’s competence also took him to the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he represented the South Korean national baseball team as an infielder. Despite his team not advancing beyond the pool play, Edman made an impact with 2 hits and 1 walk in his 11 trips to the plate.
Edman is the proud offspring of John Edman, Jr. and Maureen Kwak. This well-rounded player inherits his Korean lineage from his mother’s side. His father John made his mark in the sports field with his four years of college baseball at Williams College in Massachusetts. John is now a respected teacher and coach of the varsity baseball team at La Jolla Country Day School, Edman’s alma mater. Edman’s mother Maureen was born in South Korea and moved to the United States in her early years. His older brother, John, is engaged in the research and development division of the Minnesota Twins, while his younger sister, Elise, played volleyball at Davidson College and later joined the Cardinals staff as a Systems Engineer.
Edman’s personal life has been as fulfilling as his professional pursuits. He married his fiancée, Kristen, on November 23, 2019, having to readjust their initial wedding date due to the Cardinals’ involvement in the 2019 National League Division Series. The couple shares a child together. Apart from his commitment to his family and the sport, Edman is a dedicated Christian. He strongly believes in using his stature in the world of baseball to influence and inspire others and spread the word of God as much as he can.
