As the final week of the 2024 MLB regular season approaches, the tension is palpable with postseason spots and individual awards hanging in the balance. One storyline that has captured attention is the impressive resurgence of Tommy Edman and Cedric Mullins, who have both delivered remarkable performances when their teams needed them most.
Tommy Edman's Impact in Los Angeles
Tommy Edman’s journey this season has been nothing short of dramatic. Traded to the Dodgers in a mid-season deal involving the Cardinals and the White Sox, Edman has made a considerable impact in a short period. Despite undergoing offseason wrist surgery and battling an ankle injury during his rehab assignment, Edman hadn’t seen any game action until a late-season surge brought him back to the forefront.
In the last 15 games leading up to Tuesday, Edman has hit six home runs and stolen three bases, showcasing his versatility both at the plate and on the field. His performance has helped him achieve a .265/.310/.470 line in 31 games with the Dodgers, with an even more impressive .284/.333/.523 line over his last 23 games. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts lauded Edman’s unexpected contribution of power, stating, “Really surprised with the power. 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 has shown his defensive flexibility by starting in center field, shortstop, and second base, accumulating 1.0 WAR over 31 games. His presence and performance have provided a significant boost to the Dodgers as they push for postseason success.
The Resurgence of Cedric Mullins
Cedric Mullins’ season has been one of two halves. On June 8, he was struggling with a .170/.221/.301 slash line, but he has remarkably turned his performance around since then. Mullins now boasts an overall slash of .228/.299/.404, including 18 home runs. His efforts have translated to a positive 2.4 WAR in his last 85 games, a stark contrast to the minus-0.4 WAR from his first 57 games of the season.
Mullins credits his resurgence to a shift in his mental approach, explaining, “I think the biggest part was for me to stop chasing that season (30-30 in 2021). 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.”
The Tigers' Youth Movement
Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers are on the cusp of securing a wild-card spot, aiming for their first playoff berth since 2014. This potential achievement is even more impressive considering that six of Tuesday's starting nine position players for the Tigers were 24 or younger.
One of the critical changes for the Tigers came after Javier Báez’s season-ending hip injury on August 22. Trey Sweeney stepped in as starting shortstop and has made 29 starts in the 32 games since Báez’s injury. Sweeney, who was acquired in the Jack Flaherty trade with the Dodgers, was a former first-round pick by the Yankees in 2021. He has delivered a solid .267/.345/.450 slash line in Triple-A this year and contributed 15 home runs and 20 steals in 107 games.
The Tigers also bolstered their roster by calling up top prospect Jackson Jobe, reflecting their commitment to integrating young talent into their lineup as they strive for postseason success.
As the final days of the regular season unfold, the performances of players like Edman and Mullins, and the youthful vigor of teams like the Tigers, underscore the unpredictable and thrilling nature of baseball. Each game, each at-bat, and each defensive play carries the weight of the season, making this time of year a showcase of skill, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of victory.