Hitting It Big

By Michelle Choate
From Stanford University to Major League Baseball, Tommy Edman ’13 makes his debut with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Major League Baseball fans will be happy to know that one of LJCDS’s own, Tommy Edman ’13, has made it to the show.

Edman, a switch-hitting infielder who was a sixth-round draft pick for the St. Louis Cardinals, was called up to the team from the minors in summer 2019 to fill in for an injured player. Since making his debut, Edman, 24, has made the most of his opportunity. In only 92 games and 349 plate appearances, Edman completed the 2019 season with 99 hits, 11 home runs and 36 RBIs, while making an impact as a dependable infielder. In the postseason, Edman started in all seven games and helped the Cardinals beat the Braves in Games 4 and 5 of the National League Division Series to send the Cardinals into the National League Championship Series against the Nationals.


In many ways, Edman’s life in baseball has been building to this big moment. While not a prototypical MLB player—Edman doesn’t have a huge, imposing physique or monster stats—he has always been a smart player who has gotten the most out of every bit of his talent. Helping him nurture that talent was his father, LJCDS varsity baseball coach and math teacher John Edman. “As a coach’s kid, Tommy was around the field a lot, always learning the game,” says John. “He looked up to the older kids and tried to emulate them. And he was always willing to step up to any challenge.”

Edman’s hard work has paid off at every stage of his career. He was a standout at Stanford University, where he was a Second Team All-American. After being drafted by St. Louis, he entered their farm system and quickly rose through the ranks. Prior to being called up to the majors, Edman was a top hitter for the Class AAA Memphis Redbirds and helped lead them to the Pacific Coast League title. 

Edman’s journey to the major leagues has always included the support of his parents. “Every step of the way has been great,” says his father. “From playing at Stanford to being drafted. As his parents, we were never sure how far he was going to go, but we’re always along for the ride. We got to see his first game as a major leaguer! Every place that he’s gone, it’s been an exciting new experience for him and for us. His playing has brought us all new friends and reconnected us with old friends across the country.”

 
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