Can you smell what the Dodgers are cooking? Signing two-time superstar Shohei Ohtani and Japanese import Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the offseason showed Los Angeles was done playing, ready to win their second World Series since 2020 and the first World Series played in a full season since 1988 .

While the Dodgers clinched a spot in the Fall Classic and defeated the New York Mets four games to two in the championship series, the argument can be made that it was actually one of their midseason signings that made it all possible. After putting together a strong run to advance the Dodgers, former Stanford baseball star Tommy Edman was named the 2024 NLCS MVP.

Edman, who was acquired by the Dodgers from the St. Louis Cardinals in a deal at the trade deadline, proved why his addition was a big difference maker, just like in the series against the Mets. Edman drove in 11 RBI, including hitting a big two-run home run in Game 6 while hitting .407, giving the Dodgers another unlikely superstar in a lineup that already included Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Max Muncy contains. and Teoscar Hernández.

Although Edman’s best game came in the clincher, he also put together a three-RBI game in game four, going 2-for-6 with two doubles, and a two-RBI game in game two when he went 3-for-4 hit despite the Dodgers. lost 7-3. Edman’s NLCS MVP recognition now makes it the third major award he has earned in his career, with his other two being a Gold Glove in 2021 and the Fielding Bible Award in 2022. Overall for the postseason, Edman is hitting .341 with one home run and 12 RBI, standing out as one of Los Angeles’ best and most important players during this playoff run.

Edman made his season debut for the Dodgers on August 19 and played in only 37 games during the regular season, missing more than 100 games while recovering from wrist surgery he had last offseason. Edman split time primarily between center field and shortstop when he returned, hitting .237 with six home runs and 20 RBI in the regular season.

Edman played three seasons for Stanford and spent 2014-2016 as a member of the Cardinal. Edman left college with a .281 average, four home runs and 71 RBI. His best season came in 2016 when he played in every game at shortstop, starting and finishing the campaign with a .286 average and 24 RBI.

Despite not hitting a home run, Edman led the team in runs, hits, triples and stolen bases. Selected in the sixth round of the 2016 MLB Draft by St. Louis, Edman made his big league debut with the Cardinals in 2019 and then spent the next five and a half seasons there before the Dodgers acquired him.

With the World Series game officially set, Edman and the Dodgers have all week to celebrate and prepare for the big event before suiting up for Game 1 against the New York Yankees on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 5:08 PM (PT) at Dodger Stadium.