As the final week of the 2024 MLB regular season arrives, fans are on the edge of their seats with postseason berths and award races reaching a fever pitch. One player who has recently caught the league's attention is Tommy Edman of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite a challenging season marked by an offseason wrist surgery and an ankle injury during his rehab assignment, Edman has roared back to life in spectacular fashion.
Edman, who joined the Dodgers from the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-team trade involving the Washington Nationals and the Chicago White Sox, hadn't seen any game action until his late-season surge. He has made an immediate impact, hitting six home runs and stealing three bases in his last 15 games. Over the 31 games he's played with the Dodgers, Edman boasts a .265/.310/.470 line, which has improved to a remarkable .284/.333/.523 over his last 23 games.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has been impressed with Edman's performance. "Really surprised with the power," Roberts remarked. "I know that he has an apt to put the barrel on the ball. Certainly versatile defensively. But in the batter's box, he just really takes good at-bats. He's hit six or seven homers for us already in a short period of time and they all seem like they were big. He's gotten a lot of big hits for us."
Edman's versatility has been a boon for the Dodgers. He has logged starts in center field, shortstop, and second base, contributing to a 1.0 WAR over 31 games. His ability to play multiple positions and provide consistent offensive production makes him a valuable asset as the Dodgers push for the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Cedric Mullins of the Baltimore Orioles has experienced a season of two halves. On June 8, Mullins was struggling mightily with a .170/.221/.301 slash line. However, he turned things around remarkably, ending up with an overall .228/.299/.404 line for the season, including 18 home runs. In his last 85 games, Mullins has posted a positive 2.4 WAR, a significant improvement from the minus-0.4 WAR he recorded over the first 57 games of the season.
Mullins attributes his turnaround to a shift in mindset. "I think the biggest part was for me to stop chasing that season (30-30 in 2021)," Mullins explained. "That season was awesome, but at the same time, I think the reason I'm putting up numbers that are similar to it is because I'm no longer chasing that guy. I'm just being who I am."
In the American League, the Detroit Tigers are on the verge of clinching a wild-card spot, aiming for their first playoff berth since 2014. This potential achievement is even more remarkable considering that six of Tuesday's starting nine position players for the Tigers were 24 years old or younger. The youth movement in Detroit has been led by players like Trey Sweeney, who became the starting shortstop after Javier Báez's season-ending hip injury on August 22. Sweeney has started 29 of the 32 games since then, after being acquired in a trade with the Dodgers.
Sweeney, a former first-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2021, has shown promise with a .267/.345/.450 slash line in Triple-A this year, adding 15 home runs and 20 steals in 107 games. The Tigers are also bolstered by the recent call-up of their top prospect, Jackson Jobe, adding to the excitement and hope for the future.
As the regular season draws to a close, the performances of players like Edman and Mullins are a testament to the unpredictability and excitement that make baseball so captivating. The Tigers' pursuit of a wild-card spot adds another layer of drama to a season already filled with memorable moments. All eyes will be on the final week of action as teams and players vie for a spot in the postseason and the chance to etch their names into the annals of baseball history.