Thomas Hyunsu Edman Bio
Thomas Hyunsu Edman (born May 9, 1995), nicknamed ‘Tommy Tanks’, is an American professional baseball utility player for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). After being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016, he made his MLB debut in 2019 and quickly established himself as a versatile player, contributing significantly to the team’s success. In 2024, he was traded to the Dodgers, where he played a pivotal role in their World Series victory. Edman also represents the South Korean national team in international competitions.
Early Life and Background
Thomas Edman was born in Pontiac, Michigan, and raised in San Diego, California. He graduated from La Jolla Country Day School in 2013, where he was selected to an All-Academic Team. Edman attended Stanford University, where he played college baseball for the Stanford Cardinal for three seasons. His collegiate career included playing summer baseball for the Newport Gulls in the New England Collegiate League, where he was named an All-Star and recognized as the best defensive player.
Path to Baseball
After his sophomore season in 2015, Edman played summer ball for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he batted .304 and was named the starting second baseman for the East Division All-Star team. As a junior in 2016, he started every game at shortstop and batted .286, leading Stanford in runs, hits, triples, and stolen bases, earning a spot on the Pac-12 Conference first team. Edman was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2016 MLB draft, marking the beginning of his professional career.
Thomas Hyunsu Edman Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
After being drafted, Edman was assigned to the State College Spikes, where he posted a .286 batting average with four home runs, 33 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases in 66 games. He was named a New York–Penn League All-Star. In 2017, he played for the Peoria Chiefs, Palm Beach Cardinals, and Springfield Cardinals, batting a combined .261 with five home runs and 55 RBIs in 119 games. Edman began the 2018 season with Springfield, where he was named a Texas League All-Star and reached base in 32 straight games, breaking Springfield’s all-time record.
Breakthrough (2019–2023)
Edman made his MLB debut on June 8, 2019, as a pinch hitter against the Chicago Cubs. He recorded his first MLB hit on June 14 and his first career home run on June 20. Over 92 regular-season games in 2019, Edman slashed .304/.350/.500 with 11 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. He was named the starting third baseman for the Cardinals in the 2020 season, batting .250 with five home runs and 26 RBIs. In 2021, Edman became the starting second baseman, earning the Gold Glove Award for his defensive skills. He appeared in 159 games that season, slashing .262/.308/.387 with 11 home runs and 30 stolen bases.
Notable Works and Milestones
Edman was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2024, where he won NLCS MVP honors and helped lead the team to a World Series victory. He signed a five-year, $74 million contract extension with the Dodgers in November 2024.
Thomas Hyunsu Edman Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Thomas Hyunsu Edman has received several nominations, including the NLCS MVP in 2024 for his outstanding performance during the postseason.
Thomas Hyunsu Edman Awards Won
Edman has won multiple prestigious awards, including the Gold Glove Award in 2021 and two World Series championships in 2024 and 2025.
Thomas Hyunsu Edman Family
Thomas Edman is the son of Maureen Kwak and John Edman Jr. He has an older brother, John, who works in research and development for the Minnesota Twins, and a younger sister, Elise, who played volleyball at Davidson College.
Personal Life
Edman married Kristen on November 23, 2019. The couple had originally planned their wedding for October 5, but had to reschedule due to the Cardinals’ participation in the postseason. Edman is of Korean heritage from his mother’s side and has expressed his desire to use his platform as a professional athlete to impact others positively.