CINCINNATI \u2014 The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to call up infielder Alex Freeland, a league source told The Athletic, shoring up their position player group and bringing the club\u2019s most promising middle infield prospect to the majors.<\/p>\n
Freeland\u2019s arrival comes during a delicate time for the club\u2019s infield depth, as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Freeland will taxi as they evaluate the state of Hyeseong Kim\u2019s left shoulder and Tommy Edman\u2019s reinjured right ankle.<\/p>\n
Kim has been playing through discomfort in his left shoulder for close to a week but remained in the lineup for Monday\u2019s 5-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds. He did not look comfortable, grimacing as he swung and only following through with his right arm. He settled for dropping down a bunt in his third plate appearance against Reds rookie Chase Burns after striking out in his first two at-bats.<\/p>\n
His potential replacement didn\u2019t feel much better Monday. Edman was scratched from the initial lineup after tweaking his right ankle while running the bases at Fenway Park on Sunday. Edman missed time in May because of the same ankle and was not available when Roberts wanted to pinch hit him for Kim with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. Kim popped out.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, if I couldn\u2019t hit him tonight, for him not to be able to play three innings of defense isn\u2019t a great feeling,\u201d Roberts said.<\/p>\n
The manager has grown used to checking in with the infirmary, as the number of Dodgers on the injured list would increase to 12 if one of the two has to be sidelined Tuesday. Kim was seen using an electronic stimulation machine on the shoulder after Monday\u2019s game. \u201cHe\u2019s fighting it,\u201d Roberts said. They will check on Edman as well, whom Roberts called \u201cday to day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t feel like this is that big a deal,\u201d said Edman, who also tweaked the ankle in early June but didn\u2019t have to go on the IL at the time. \u201cI was just at a point where I didn\u2019t feel like I could run full speed today.\u201d<\/p>\n
That opens the door for Freeland. The 23-year-old, who was the Dodgers\u2019 third-round selection in 2022, has been one of the club\u2019s most intriguing prospects for quite some time. He put together a promising start to his first full season at Triple A, hitting .253\/.377\/.421 in 453 plate appearances while mostly playing shortstop and third base. Freeland was the No. 68-ranked prospect on the preseason edition<\/a> of Keith Law\u2019s top 100 list for The Athletic.<\/p>\n