by Megan Garcia

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been the embodiment of efficiency over the last year. And he’s found other ways recently to pitch deep into games and limit opposing offenses.

It has become a familiar sight to see the right-hander in the sixth inning and beyond this season. He completed eight innings and allowed three earned runs in the Dodgers’ 3–2 loss to the Red Sox on Friday at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium.

Yamamoto is now tied with Christopher Sánchez and Sandy Alcantara for the Major League lead with 16 quality starts in 2026. His career high is 18 quality starts in a single season, which he set last year.

“It was a good baseball game. I think (the Red Sox) just hung in there; it’s kind of what they do. They got the leadoff double in the eighth inning and cashed it in,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We got a lot of hits, just couldn’t put anything together. (Teoscar) had a big hit, and honestly overall, I thought the at-bat quality was pretty good.”

Yamamoto pitched into the eighth inning for a fifth time this season. His three strikeouts against Boston are the fewest he has notched in an eight-inning start, but the weak contact in groundballs and fly outs got him to pitch late in the game.

“I wasn’t changing or making the adjustments to get the swing and miss (against their lineup,” Yamamoto said. “This time, I just got a lot of ground balls.”

Home runs, specifically by centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, affected Yamamoto the most. They accounted for half of the hits the Red Sox got off the right-hander in his eight innings of work.

The other two hits came in the eighth came from Boston’s Nos. 7 and 8 hitters.

“Honestly, it was two bad pitches. He was efficient; he was really good and got the strikeouts. (Yamamoto) left two splitters up and close to (Rafaela) and he put two good swings on them,” Roberts said. “But outside of that, he was fantastic.”

The only other time that Yamamoto took the loss after pitching at least eight innings and allowing three earned runs or less was last season, when he flirted with a no-hitter against the Orioles on Sept. 6. That game also resulted in a loss.

Teoscar Hernández’s two-run home run in the second was the only run support for Yamamoto. The Dodger lineup recorded 10 hits for a second consecutive night against the Red Sox.

“I really liked what we did today. There were some opportunities to have better results, but I thought we were prepared tonight. Other nights I don’t feel we’re synced up,” Roberts said of the Dodger offense. “But tonight, (the Red Sox) won a baseball game.”

Yoshinobu Yamamoto finds a new way to deal another quality start for the Dodgers was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

by Senji Torrey

As the Dodgers and Red Sox exchanged leads, each trying to outdo the other with pitching and hitting in the series opener, there stood another strong night in the batter’s box for Freddie Freeman. It’s become a burgeoning habit for the 36-year-old in the second half.

“Consistent, focused, productive,” said manager Dave Roberts when asked about Freeman’s second half thus far. “He’s swinging the bat really well. Lefties, righties — he just doesn’t give anything away in the batter’s box.”

Freeman has a .412 batting average (21-for-55) in the second half of the season — fourth-best average in Major League Baseball. His .348 batting average in July is his best mark in any month this season.

And he’s quietly put together a hitting streak to go alongside his impressive production.

His 3-for-4 Friday night extended his hit streak to 10 games, the longest of any Dodger this season and the longest active streak in MLB. The hit that extended his streak came in the fourth inning on a sinker he sailed over the infield.

He followed it up with two more singles, including a leadoff hit in the sixth inning to set up an ultimately fruitless bases-loaded situation. Friday marked the first time the Dodgers have lost when Freeman hits three or more.

It also served as Freeman’s sixth multi-hit game of the second half, and his fourth three-hit day. He has gone 20-for-41 in his last 10 games, with four doubles and three RBI.

The consistency has seen him lead the Dodgers’ second half in hits (21), batting average (.412), on-base percentage (.436) and OPS (.926). His batting average in 13 games out of the All-Star break leads the National League.

Freeman drove in one run in the Dodgers’ 9–4 loss at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Friday.

“It’s just kind of the nature of a beast of a 162-game schedule with nine games in a row,” Freeman said. “It’s on us to score more runs, and we just didn’t do it (last night).”

On the other side of the ball, pitcher Cole Irvin showcased length and resiliency in a formidable Dodger debut. Taking over in the third inning as a link in a bullpen game, Irvin would not give up an earned run until the seventh inning.

This included two 1–2–3 innings and a fourth where he notched a vital strikeout to leave a pair of Red Sox on base. The seventh inning saw Irvin give up five runs on a homer, three singles, a double and a sacrifice hit.

“I signed up to be a Major League Baseball player, and some nights aren’t going to go your way,” Irvin said. “ I can sit here and smile because all the work that I put into my season so far got me this opportunity, and I’m not going to let anything get in my way of the joy that I have right now. And yeah, it sucks to lose, but at the same time, I earned this opportunity.”

The lefty posted a 9–6 record with a 3.58 ERA in 20 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City before his call-up on Friday. The Anaheim native last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2024 with the Baltimore Orioles and Minnesota Twins, where he went 6–6 with a 5.11 ERA in 29 games.

“Cole Irvin did a fantastic job. He did what he could, and you have to sometimes take it on the chin to then give yourself a chance to win the series,” Roberts said. “(It) never feels good when you’re in it, but that’s what you have to do.”

“Consistent, focused, productive”: Freddie Freeman defines steadiness in the batter’s box was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

by Senji Torrey

Roki Sasaki held the weight of expectations on Thursday.

For the first time this season, however, it was less about progress and more about maintaining his recent excellence on the mound.

He did just that for most of his Thursday outing, where he racked up seven strikeouts while giving up two runs on five hits in a 6–2 victory over the Mariners at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium.

“I think he just decided that it’s time to go and finish strong,” said manager Dave Roberts. “It’s a new half and it’s a new beginning and you’ve seen a different player, to be quite honest.”

Sasaki’s series-clinching performance follows a pair of stellar outings to begin the second half. The three games combined for 21 strikeouts with three earned runs over 18 innings.

Sasaki started his night strong. Only two of the 16 batters he faced got on base, one via a walk in the first and the other on a single in the third. The rest were either striking out or making weak contact against him.

“What I’ve been working on is finally paying off mechanically,” Sasaki said. “I think the effect on the forkball was in a good way too.”

He hit a snag in the sixth when two runs scored on two leadoff extra-base hits. Sasaki left the inning with the bases loaded and one out, giving way to the bullpen to shut it down the rest of the way.

The drop-off was, in part, due to cramping in his calf area, according to Roberts.

“Sequence-wise, I should be really careful,” Sasaki said. “The third time through the order with the first hitter, I should be a little bit more careful.”

His splitter, the most-utilized pitch in his arsenal on the night, continued to mystify batters. He induced 10 swings and misses on it, while the Mariners were hitless against it. Four of his seven strikeouts came from the splitter.

The 24-year-old found himself battling in deep counts against the Mariners’ offense, like the third inning where he struck out the first two batters before enduring a full-count, nine-pitch battle that ended in a single. He capped the inning by inducing a routine pop-up.

“The first five innings, I thought, was even better than the Yankees,” Roberts said, comparing Thursday’s performance to his Yankees performance where he did not concede an earned run over 5 2/3 innings. “The fastball command, the split command, the slider (was all great).”

Teoscar Hernández also cracked his first home run since July 3 in the sixth inning. The 412-foot shot was his third farthest of the season. It also marked his 17th multi-hit game of 2026.

Dalton Rushing extended the Dodgers’ lead to 5–0 in the fourth with his 12th home run of the season. Mookie Betts initially started the scoring in the first with a two-run double.

“Obviously, there’s a lot to take away from tonight — good (and) bad — but I think the main thing is we were able to pull out a series win against a good team.” Rushing said.

Roki Sasaki continues to build upon recent success in Dodger win was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

by Mark Langill

Former Dodger pitcher Orel Hershiser, a Legend of Dodger Baseball and Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Aug. 13.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will honor Hershiser with the 2,853rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The location of the star, 6755 Hollywood Boulevard, is significant for two reasons.

Hershiser wore “55” during a 13-year Dodger career. The right-hander won 135 regular-season games after joining the organization as a 17th-round pick in the June 1979 MLB Draft out of Bowling Green University.

The “67” represents Hershiser’s historic scoreless innings streak during a 1988 championship season in which Hershiser ended the regular season with 59 scoreless innings, which eclipsed the previous mark of 58 2/3 innings by Dodger pitcher Don Drysdale in 1958.

Drysdale, who became a broadcaster after his Hall of Fame pitching career, was behind the microphone in San Diego on Sept. 28, 1988, when Hershiser broke his record with 10 scoreless innings against the Padres.

Hershiser extended the streak to 67 innings with eight scoreless innings in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the New York Mets.

The Mets ended Hershiser’s streak in the ninth inning, but Los Angeles eventually won the pennant when Hershiser fired a 6–0 complete game in the deciding Game 7 at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers beat the Oakland Athletics in five games in the World Series. Hershiser, the MVP of the NLCS and World Series, pitched two complete-game victories against the Athletics, including a 5–2 victory in Game 5 in Oakland.

Emmy Award-winning journalist Bob Costas will emcee the ceremony, which begins at 11:30 a.m. Guest speakers include Dodger broadcaster Joe Davis, manager Dave Roberts, Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrín and former pitcher Clayton Kershaw.

Orel Hershiser to be honored with Hollywood Walk of Fame star was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

by Erin Edwards

For Giovanni Garcia, coaching Dodgers Dreamteam in the City of La Puente is about much more than teaching young athletes how to hit, field and run the bases. It is also about creating an environment where every child feels supported, connected and part of a team.

From leading warmups to offering encouragement after a hard-fought game, Coach Giovanni brings energy and care to every moment of the season.

After his team battled back during its final regular-season game, he made sure the players understood what they had accomplished. His message was clear: celebrate the progress, keep working and continue showing up for one another.

“I’m really proud of you guys,” he told the team before turning their attention to the upcoming playoffs.

That sense of belonging is central to the Dodgers Dreamteam experience. Rooted in baseball and softball, the program helps young people build social and emotional skills, develop positive relationships with peers and connect with caring adult role models.

“I think this program is amazing,” Garcia said. “I’ve seen it work for me. I’ve seen it work for other kids.”

Garcia believes the program’s impact is possible because everyone involved shares a commitment to making a difference.

“The way that this program is run, whether it’s the coaches or the organization, I really do think everybody feels like they’re part of the team,” he said. “Everybody wants to make a difference, from top to bottom. I couldn’t ask for a better organization to be a part of.”

For the young athletes, being part of Dodgers Dreamteam means learning the game while forming friendships and creating memories.

“My favorite part about being on the Dreamteam is getting to know everyone,” one participant shared.

“My favorite part is actually having fun with the other players,” another participant said. “I have tons of friends here.”

Those experiences reflect what Dodgers Dreamteam is designed to provide: a safe and welcoming place where young people can play, grow and feel connected.

All participants receive free uniforms and access to baseball and softball equipment, helping remove financial barriers to participation. Through partnerships, families are also connected with educational resources, health services and basic necessities that can contribute to healthier life outcomes.

As Coach Giovanni and his players prepared for the playoffs, the excitement surrounding a possible championship was undeniable. But regardless of the final score, the team had already achieved something meaningful: confidence, a love for the game and relationships that keep them excited to return to the field.

For this Dodgers Dreamteam, that is what being part of something bigger is all about.

Visit Dodgers.com/DodgersDreamteam for more.

Dodgers Dreamteam fosters fun and friendship in East Los Angeles was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

by Senji Torrey

Eric Lauer entered the Dodgers organization as a solution to an injury-ridden pitching staff in May. And now in late July, he continues to prove how pivotal he has been to the rotation.

His one one-hit, four-strikeout outing over six scoreless innings on Wednesday continued to show how important he has been to the Dodgers. The performance set up a 4–2 victory that evened the series against the Mariners and evened his season record to 6–5.

The top of the order drove in the runs on Wednesday, with Andy Pages homering and singling in a pair of RBI and Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman each notching one.

“It definitely feels good to feel like myself again,” Lauer said. “(To) not go out there and wonder how today is going to go. I go out there confident, feeling good, feeling prepared every time. So to see the success follow has been really good.”

The six untouched frames marked the second time Lauer has not conceded any runs this season since joining the Dodgers. He last did it on June 22, when he pitched six hitless innings against the Minnesota Twins in a tight 2–1 win.

In his three starts since, Lauer has picked up another two wins while dealing with early-inning pitching struggles. In total, he gave up six of his nine runs in the first three innings in these games.

On Wednesday, he navigated through a dire 24-pitch first inning that saw him put two Mariners on base. A swinging strikeout on Cal Raleigh, however, closed the door.

He followed it up with a 1–2–3 second inning and a heads-up pickoff play to catch second baseman Cole Young in a pickle to finish the third inning. He finished his sixth and final inning in 10 pitches.

“Just the makeup, the preparedness and what he’s done for us as far as giving us length — it seems like every time he pitches, we win,” said manager Dave Roberts. “I can’t say enough about what Eric’s done for us.”

Lauer’s velocity was up on a five-pitch mix he threw on Wednesday night, including a mile an hour on his four-seamer and over two clicks on his changeup. He used his lower-flying change-up and slider to throw the high-in-the-zone seeking Mariners off throughout his outing.

“The change-up, for me, has always been the holy grail of what I need to round out my repertoire and get something going armside,” Lauer said. “So being able to just be confident using that now and mixing that in a lot more has been huge to keep guys off balance.”

Edwin Díaz, in his first start back since surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, also ramped up his velocity. His four-seamer and slider each upped a mile per hour to 96.9 and 89.4 mph, respectively, on his season average.

The Dodger offense chipped away just as Lauer did, cashing in on the small ball to notch a run in four different innings. Andy Pages kicked it off with a hit over the left field barrier to get the Dodgers a 1–0 lead in the first inning. It was his first home run of the second half and second of the month.

Teoscar Hernández hit his fourth double of the second half in the fourth inning, which would set up a loaded bases situation after Shohei Ohtani took an intentional walk for the second night in a row. Pages pushed the run with an infield single that powered out of third baseman Weston Wilson’s glove.

“Tonight’s game was just a very, very good effort by our ball club, offensively (and) defensively,” Roberts said. “It just seemed like the focus was heightened, which was great to see.”

Eric Lauer engineers six scoreless innings in Dodger victory over Mariners was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

by Senji Torrey

Right on time for his bobblehead night, the Dodgers activated closer Edwin Díaz from the injured list. The right-handed returns to the team after three months on the injured list.

He has been sidelined since April 20 after he underwent surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. Left-handed pitcher Charlie Barnes was designated for assignment to make room on the roster.

“I’m always ready to help this team to win,” Díaz said. “I’ve been on the sidelines for a long time; I just can’t wait to be back. And if they give me the ball today in the ninth, I will do my job.”

Díaz is the second player to rejoin the team off the IL in as many days, following utility player Kiké Hernández.

“I think we just got a lot better today,” said manager Dave Roberts.

Díaz appeared in seven games, closing six of them, before hitting the IL in his first season with the Dodgers. He racked up four saves and 10 strikeouts in the span.

“Taking out those bone chips, they look like shark teeth,” Roberts said. “It was compromising his extension, the feel and all that stuff. So, he says he hasn’t felt this good in quite some time. So, I do think that (that’s what led to the) erratic sprays and inconsistencies.”

Díaz said his velocity is back up since the surgery, giving his pitches the right movement.

He began his rehab on July 11 with Single-A Ontario Tower Buzzers before moving to the Arizona Complex League Dodgers. He finished with a trio of outings with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Across the seven games, Díaz notched 11 strikeouts while giving up two earned runs on four hits.

Roberts plans to slot Díaz back into the closer spot. Second-year Dodger Tanner Scott took the reigns in Díaz’s absence, earning 16 saves in 18 opportunities.

“I’m looking for more of the command, seeing how the slider shape is, and I think at the end of the day, the hitters will tell you how the stuff is,” Roberts said.

Díaz stood as the top closer in the offseason market after an All-Star 2025 season with the New York Mets that included a 6–3 record with 28 saves. His 1.63 ERA ranked second in the Major Leagues last season among closers, while his 3.1 WAR put him fourth on the Mets.

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the team has a cautious approach with players on the injured list.

Left-hander Blake Snell is set to make another pitching start with Single-A Ontario on Wednesday. While it is possible he will return following the start, Friedman has emphasized the cautious philosophy:

“(We don’t) want to place our needs above doing what we think is right to build a guy back,” Friedman said. “It may be that he’s in a great spot, and we decide to, but I want to make that decision independent of other factors.”

Right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who has been out with complications related to lower back spasms since May 6, threw two innings in a live bullpen session on Wednesday at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium.

Given that he looked good against hitters, Roberts said, Glasnow is likely to go out on a rehab assignment soon.

Shohei Ohtani is also nursing bicep and knee setbacks. Friedman explained that the knee, which has proven to be the larger of the two issues, flares up most when landing while pitching.

“The fact that it does keep improving suggests we’re on the right path, and we feel very confident he will be back,” Friedman said. “It’s also where it gets to the depth that we have and the talented arms that have stepped up with some of our injuries that we feel like have deserved an opportunity to keep going, so it just doesn’t fall into acute (need).”

Catcher Will Smith, who has been out since June 5, has progressed on schedule with his neck disc inflammation, and is set to start baseball activities in the coming days.

“It’s obviously a difficult thing to know exactly, and different guys heal differently. But it lines up with it, and he has continued to stack good day on good day,” Friedman said.

Edwin Díaz is ready to contribute in his return to the Dodger bullpen was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

by Megan Garcia

Shohei Ohtani hit his 10th leadoff home run of the season and finished a triple shy of the cycle in the Dodgers’ first UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium game since July 12. He delivered his eighth three-hit game of the season, adding three runs batted in and a walk. His 432-foot home run was tied for his third longest of the season.

Though he was ultimately stranded at third base on a Mookie Betts’ groundout to end the Dodgers’ 7–6 loss to Seattle, Ohtani’s performance offered a feel-good note amid lingering pain in his left knee — one that has sidelined him from pitching since July 3.

Ohtani didn’t participate in All-Star Game festivities in order to give his body additional rest. He is also nursing a recurring bicep injury that he sustained in a swing on July 4, in the first season that Ohtani began as a full-time two-way player since 2023.

“The discomfort was caused initially by the pitching, so it’s something that I have to work around,” Ohtani said after the Dodgers’ 7–6 loss to the Mariners. “In terms of running, I’m not exactly at 100 percent capacity.”

While Ohtani added that it’s harder to be aggressive on the basepaths due to the pain, the two-way star hustled on his RBI double that scored Dalton Rushing with none out in the ninth after Mariners right fielder Victor Robles, a defensive replacement, mishandled the ball on his throw back into the infield. Ohtani made it to third base, putting himself 90 feet away from a tie game.

It was a welcome sight in a second half that had seen Ohtani batting .184/.220/.263 in the nine games preceding Tuesday. His home run against Mariners starter Luis Castillo was his first long ball since that July 12 first-half finale.

“Tonight he looked like himself,” Dodger manager Dave Roberts said. “I do think that the road trip was exhausting for everyone. I do think that with the day off, he came in fresh and looked more like himself. Even with the double in the last at-bat, he’s moving well. He feels good, but obviously not well enough for us to say that he can go out there and pitch.”

Rushing (3 for 4), Tommy Edman (2 for 4) and Max Muncy tried to fend off the Mariners in a back-and-forth game that was tied at 1–1, 2–2, 4–4, 5–5 and so very nearly 7–7.

Muncy’s go-ahead homer to break the 4–4 tie in the fifth inning tied Eric Karros for the most home runs in the home stadium’s history with 130. It was Muncy’s fourth go-ahead home run since July 17, but this time, the Dodger lead didn’t hold.

While the Dodgers hit two homers Tuesday, they allowed five. Starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski entered the game with a 0.68 home run per nine innings rate, the sixth-best mark in baseball among qualified pitchers. But the Seattle offense — with the second-lowest slugging percentage in baseball (.377) — clubbed four home runs in six innings against him.

The quartet of dingers was the most Wrobleski has allowed in a single outing in his career. Overall, he surrendered five earned runs despite seven strikeouts.

“We didn’t do the greatest job of adjusting to their game plan, and I think they got to me,” Wrobleski said. “That’s part of the game; sometimes that happens.”

Shohei Ohtani shows his knack for power as he continues to battle knee pain was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

by Senji Torrey

Ahead of the Dodgers’ first home game of the second half, manager Dave Roberts expressed excitement about facing an opponent they have not seen in a while. But at the root of the excitement was the list of players who were making their way back from the injured list.

Utility player Kiké Hernández is the first player to come off the list. He was activated on Tuesday ahead of the series opener against the Mariners. Second baseman Alex Freeland was correspondingly optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Hernández has been sidelined since May 26 with a left oblique strain. He made his season debut on May 25 after starting the season on the injured list as he recovered from off-season left elbow surgery. Hernández appeared in two games before he was sidelined again.

“(The team) is certainly getting to be whole,” Roberts said. “Excited to get Kiké back. When he came back a month ago, he came out swinging the bat well, so trying to figure out when to get him in the lineup. So, that’s exciting.”

Hernández’s return to the team was quicker than anticipated for an oblique injury. He credited the Dodgers’ medical staff to getting him back on the field under than two months, compared to the usual three months for this type of injury.

“I took rehab to another level,” Hernández said. “I did hyperbaric chamber every single day. I was out (in the) sauna, cold tub, all that stuff, trying to do everything that I can control to accelerate the process.”

Roberts plans to slot the right-handed batter into the following series against the Boston Red Sox, where he can face left-handed pitching. Hernández will likely frequent the left side of the field at third base and left field, with a possibility of center field, on defense.

“I spent a lot of time on the (injured list), but it’s honestly gone by somewhat fast,” Hernández said. “I feel pretty good, and happy to see what I can do out on the field.”

Other key players that will rejoin the team is closer Edwin Díaz. The right-hander was transferred onto the injured list with loose bodies in his right elbow on April 20. Prior to that, he pitched in seven games, where he racked up 10 strikeouts while conceding nine hits and seven runs in six innings.

Catcher Will Smith, who has been dealing with neck disc inflammation since June 5, has been pain-free for the past week and is set to start baseball activities.

Right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow is set to throw a live bullpen at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium tomorrow, according to Roberts. Depending on how he feels, Glasnow could potentially go out on a rehab assignment.

Left-hander Blake Snell is also set to start a rehab assignment with Single-A Ontario Tower Buzzers on Wednesday. He has been out since May 9 with loose bodies in his left elbow.

“I feel very confident, obviously with Snell being more built up, (from) everything that I’m hearing from the medical staff,” Roberts said. “I think Tyler is in a really good spot physically on his way back to going out.”

Key players are working their way back to the Dodgers in the second half was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

by Erin Edwards

Hands shot into the air when Los Angeles Dodger Tommy Edman paused during a special LA Reads Storytime and asked, “Who here is really fast?”

Nearly half the young audience was ready to claim the title.

The moment came as Edman read Who Was Jackie Robinson?, sharing the story of the baseball legend whose speed, courage and determination helped change the game — and history.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) welcomed Edman to Lincoln Park Dodgers Dreamfields #55 and #56 for the special event. Youth from Dodgers Dreamteam, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks Summer Camp and the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles gathered on the field for a morning that connected reading, baseball and possibility.

As Edman read, participants listened, answered questions and saw how the lessons found in a book can come alive through the sport they play. By learning about Robinson’s journey, youth were reminded that qualities such as confidence, perseverance and bravery can make a difference both on and off the field.

Each participant received an LA Reads T-shirt, bookmark and book to take home, extending the experience beyond Storytime and encouraging youth to continue building their own reading habits.

The event was part of the 10th annual LA Reads program, which brings Dodger players, alumni, broadcasters and friends of LADF to libraries, schools and parks across Los Angeles. Through engaging programs and educational resources, LA Reads works to make reading fun and inspire a lifelong love of learning.

Since its launch, LA Reads has recorded more than 6.8 million minutes read and distributed over 32,000 books. LADF is grateful for support from Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel, which helps the program address the literacy crisis in Los Angeles and expand access to books and literacy opportunities for local youth.

Parents and educators can keep the momentum going by enrolling K–8 students in the Dodgers Reading Champions program. Participants can track their reading and earn rewards when they log more than 30 minutes per day.

To learn more and register, visit Dodgers.com/LAReads.

Tommy Edman Brings the Story of Jackie Robinson to Life at Lincoln Park Dodgers Dreamfield was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.