The Dodgers have placed outfielder Andrew Toles on the restricted list, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register tweets. Toles has yet to report to spring camp owing to an undisclosed personal matter.
Details are lacking, though it seems that today’s move was not driven by any change in Toles’s situation. With no resolution in sight, though, the Dodgers will now have another 40-man roster spot to work with for the time being.
Still just 26 years old, Toles burst onto the MLB scene in 2016 but missed much of the ensuing season with an ACL tear. He ultimately received only a limited opportunity last year, struggling in just 32 plate appearances, but hit well (.306/.345/.461) in his 275 trips to the plate at Triple-A.
The expectation had been that the left-handed-hitting Toles would challenge for a part-time role in Spring Training. Just how things might have shaken out can’t be known given that he never made it into camp. Toles will remain under control of the Dodgers organization, which will ultimately need to decide whether to add him back to the 40-man roster if and when he is ready to resume playing.
What did he do??? How can’t anyone know?? Why can’t everyone keep a secret like this…
yeah it’s like how Colby rasmus has been the last few seasons nobody knows what’s up
Strange. He’s has a bit of a history of personal problems. Knew him as a young young kid. Would never predicted issues, always full of smiles
“Has a bit of a history” and “would never predict issues”
What?
“Always had a full-on man beard, even in high school.”
“Never knew him not to shave his face near-daily…”
Toles has some issues mentally and it has been somewhat documented. Last year he opened up for an interview that talked about his TB days. I think it was based on him simply not showing up for games/practice. He wasn’t malevolent, he just was having a battle in his own head. Hope he can figure things out and move on as a ballplayer and a person.
This right here is just so beyond outlandishly ridiculous…
Spot on Pope
I feel for that kid. He’s loaded with talent and looked to have a serious future with the Dodgers. Hope he comes back from whatever the issue is…
26 yrs old it would seem injury and personal issue have put a dent in a once promising career next season he will be 27 fighting for a job and after that 28 times is ticking away fast for Andrew
What a weird framework to look at this with.
Don’t leave us hanging; what comes after 28?
+1
What is this Logan’s run?
Carrousel?
Look for the woman with the ankh
So what you’re saying is he gets older by 1 yr every 365 days?
This is actually an old story, it was reported weeks ago that Toles wasn’t in camp. He wasn’t officially on the restricted list at that point but it hardly mattered what it was called. It’s too bad that he’s been sidelined again due to personal issues. What they are nobody but he and the Dodgers need to know about. It’s also wrong to assume he’s in some sort of trouble. He’s been in and out of baseball but never in trouble. Whatever it is I hope he works it out.
He had multiple issues with the Rays, to the point where they released him for disciplinary reasons despite the obvious talent … and then nobody picked him up for a whole season till the Dodgers gave him a second chance. So yeah, he’s been in trouble in the past.
And anytime a MLB makes a roster move, it’s a story.
I know the Toles story but I’m not sure you do. The only thing we know about his personal situation is that he’s battled an anxiety disorder since he was a teenager. That’s hardly the same thing as being “in trouble.” As for it being a story, my point is it was actually a story weeks ago. It just hadn’t been reported here until he was officially moved to the restricted list.
A MLB team that drafted him and paid him six figures wound up releasing him for disciplinary reasons. If you want to tell yourself that’s “never been in trouble,” go for it..
You just totally ignored what I said so you can continue to be nasty?
Bud, that just sucks.
Toles was kicked off both of his college teams, was subsequently dumped by the Rays and now finds himself on the Dodgers restricted list. I love his game and hope for the best but BlueSky you/we simply cannot deny he’s been in trouble in the past. Interesting the Dodgers have been so successful at keeping the root of his recent problem moot. Credit goes to the Dodgers as far as I’m concerned.
Have you read the Tennessee coach’s quote regarding his leaving the team? Hardly a case of him “being kicked off” the team.
From the LA Times, “Toles … was dismissed from the University of Tennessee baseball team as a sophomore in 2011 for failing to live up to what Coach Dave Serrano called ‘a certain standard of accountability to which every member of the team must he held.'”
I heard what you said; it’s irrelevant. I taught high school for eight years, and worked with a lot of kids that were discipline problems. Just about every one of them had some kind of diagnosis or another and most were taking meds. Giving someone a diagnosis doesn’t magically make them stop disrupting class.
Toles may well have some kind of anxiety issue that explains and mitigates his behavioral history. But the history still exists. And teams are going to deal with him mostly on the basis of his behavior, not on what may or may not cause it. They’re running a ballclub, not therapy.
Your entire response is irrelevant to my point. I’m not trying to analyze his medical or behavioral history or pretend any expertise or special knowledge about either. That would be both presumptuous and well above my pay grade, and yours too (not that it’s stopped many here). I was simply pointing out that there’s more to this story than him being “in trouble,” and I am certainly not in the least saying that his employers should not be dealing with it. In fact I said exactly the opposite. Is that clear now?
You said he was “never in trouble.” That’s what I responded to.
Now you’re changing and saying well yeah he’s been in trouble with teams in the past, but there’s more to it.
That’s not the point: the point is that your initial statement, that “he’s never been in trouble” was factually wrong, and that he has a long history of struggling with behavior/discipline type issues. But now rather than say “oh I guess I didn’t know that,” now you’re moving the goalposts and acting like you did.
I haven’t changed one single thing about what I’ve said. You are simply defining “in trouble” the way you conveniently want to define it and assuming I’m somehow obligated to agree with your definition. I also didn’t say I wasn’t aware of his issues, in fact I was the first person to post here that he had a history of them related to an anxiety disorder and it was up to him, his employer, and the people who are trying to help help him get through it. Not me, not you. This should be at least the third time I’ve said this. So, you’ve mischaracterized what I’ve said right down the line. You can easily go back to reread what I’ve posted here to confirm that, and I would respectfully request that you do so before responding again. Thank you.
Is this Ryan lol
Whether he’s been “in trouble” in the past or not, that’s more than likely irrelevant to the current situation.
His being placed on the restricted list, which has implications for the 40 man roster, is what makes this “new” news.
Let’s put it this way: if a member of the 40-man roster of some other teams we could mention failed to report to camp then it would have been a big story when it happened, not two or three weeks later.
BlueSky you are completely wrong in your statements and an embarrassment to other Dodgers fans(AGAIN). Toles is one of my favorite players but his track record is tarnished and questionable to say the leaat.
So I’m completely wrong but you can’t point out single reason why?
Just too cool for school.
Why delete my previous comment when I only asked what is going on and why such a big secret?
it wasn’t deleted. lol
See first post in the comments.
It wasn’t deleted … ?
You just got faced
Does anyone know why the Rays released him? Seems odd to release a 3rd round pick after 3 yrs. He had pretty solid numbers too. He hit 326 and stole 62 bases his second year.
It’s a shame that there isn’t a Wikipedia article about him, or umpteen articles to be found by googling…
Ahhhh… c’mon…..help the guy out. Not everyone Googles although it seems like everyone does. No matter…all the answers are in the comments anyway.
None of which go into any detail. They’re called “personal reasons” for a reason. But keep attacking the man without base, coward.
Hopefully you’re similarly curious in more admirable pursuits. It appears you’re quite inquisitive as far as finding some negative details about his personal issues. If he was your family member, would you maintain such zeal?
I did Google it genius! They basically said for attitude reasons. I thought maybe a Ray’s fan would have more insight. Sorry asking people a question in the comment section bothers you so much! I bet misspelled words and bad grammar bother you two!!!
Dismissed from University of Tenessee, benched and suspended by Chipola College, released by the Rays. Low character, poor attitude and a lack of accountability were the recurring themes for his departure from those organizations.
Andrew never displayed a bad attitude and absolutely never failed to accept responsibility or being accountable with the Dodgers. This comment is inappropriate and should be removed.
Nothing at all has ever been released about any of the issues he has had. You are just making up BS to hear yourself talk.
He isn’t the only one trying to turn the guy into some kind of a bad person. Some people here are just plain nasty.
Whoa, not trying to turn him into a bad guy at all. That info is pretty well disbursed and you can find those characterizations referenced in several articles on Toles and his past issues in college and Tampa. His coach at Tennessee publicly said that he was dismissed for a lack of accountability. The sad part being lost in all of this is that very few references are made to his battle with anxiety. That’s what should be the take away from this – he’s not a bad guy, but rather a guy that’s dealing with some heavy, chronic stuff.
Just like your first comment went in and on and you never referenced any battle with anxiety? Hmmmmm
It seems you created characterizations about him regarding the reasons for his departures from those teams.
No you’re not trying to turn him into a bad guy, just a guy with “low character,” etc. I’d hate to think what you’d say if you were really trying.
For the record, I was the first person here to mention his anxiety disorder. That’s a medical issue, not a character defect.
He might have a medical issue. I won’t ever attack him for that.
But millions of Americans deal with anxiety and other neurological issues on the daily and don’t get disciplined by 3-4 organizations they work for.
I don’t know Andrew Toles, and have no idea what his issues are, but you’re going to be hard-pressed to convince people that a guy who has a laundry list of disciplinary issues is being unfairly maligned.
I hope whatever is leading Toles to have these issues gets taken care of. But please stop accusing people of maligning him.
I will only accuse people of that who are presuming to know things about a person’s medical and personal situation they can’t possibly know. You can see plenty of that here. I should not have to point out where it’s happened.
Unless you know Toles and are in the Dodgers FO, your statements are just as much presumption.
It is not remotely inappropriate or out of line to suggest that a guy who has been disciplined by his last four baseball organizations probably has some issues he needs to work out.
Think about it, he was kicked off the team at Tennessee. He was suspended at Chipola College. He was placed on the inactive list in the Rays organization and later released for personal reasons, and now this.
I don’t presume to know WHAT those personal reasons are. But they’ve clearly followed him long enough to present a problem everywhere he’s been. Pointing this out isn’t a character assassination.
I’ll close with this: It’s a very, very safe bet to say that Toles’ issues go beyond his anxiety. The Dodgers would not and legally, they CAN NOT suspend him because he has anxiety. They very clearly know this.
There is something there, and I’m not going to assume what it is, nor should anyone, but it’s naive and foolish to think that Toles can’t possibly be in trouble after this many times being disciplined.
If you are talking to me, I presume nothing. I am responding to the people who seem comfortable presuming to say he’s a person of “low character.” That kind of thing certainly is character assassination, if for no other reason than we can’t presume to know that or much else of substance. This should be clear from everything I’ve posted. I have no idea what the Dodgers can do legally but we have certainly seen players suspended and even released for a variety of disciplinary reasons, most of which are never made public. So it can certainly be done.
But keep in mind, Friedman signed Toles a second time knowing a lot more about his personal issues than any of us know. Should tell us something. Should tell us that Dodgers would rather try to help him through his issues than release him.
They cannot, legally, fire/suspend/cut a player simply for having anxiety. That is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any organization worth their salt knows this.
It’s pretty obvious to just about anyone willing to accept the truth that Toles has done something that warrants a suspension. My guess is, all of his suspensions were warranted.
As far as Friedman’s signing of Toles: it reveals nothing. If nothing else, it shows that Friedman is/was willing to take the risk, hoping that Toles has changed.
I don’t presume to know anything specific, but you’re out of your mind if you think he hasn’t done anything to get in trouble. Guys don’t get disciplined at least four times for just being anxious.
His release from the Rays was mutual. He was signed to the Dodgers by the Rays former GM.
It is only natural for people to be curious and secrecy in this day and age is difficult to keep. With that in mind, if he had been arrested it would have been in the news, so there’s no need to speculate. It is a personal problem.
Whatever it is, I hope it gets resolved.
Agreed. It’s so easy these days to assume that everything is our business since it’s often right at our fingertips, and I think that all of us sometimes forget that we all have aspects of our personal lives that we prefer to keep personal, athletes included.
Go get him, Cleveland. Whatever he did, it can’t be as bad as what Kareem Hunt did.
He’s not a free agent he’s still under contract with the dodgers. If they were going to get rid of him they would have.
Also, you don’t know he did anything. What if someone in his family is sick or what if he’s having mental health issues.
Your comment is terrible on all levels
Issues at college…issues with the Rays.. and now some with the Dodgers. Too bad….multiple chances to redeem hinself yet he falls back again. Super talented… let’s hope that he takes advantage of his last chance should he get one.
He’s undercover for the CIA. Kind of obvious based on the lack of info on his current and past issues.
no reason to suspect there are issues in my mind. i believe if it were legal based that would have come out mt now. perhaps it is something more personal that we don’t need to know.
seems pretty obvious he isn’t in “trouble” w authorities
hope whatever is going on for the guy clears up and he can get back into his professional life
he sure has a lot of talent
A number of commenters here seem unaware at Toles issues with crippling anxiety at one time. We don’t know that that’s related THIS time, so we can’t make assumptions, but I would like to post this link and an excerpt to address the people here who are making assumptions about his character or history without acknowledging this other part of it (which is fine, but good to know this.) i too hope he gets help with whatever it is this time and comes back again.
theathletic.com/430951/2018/07/15/questioned-for-s…
(Sub required to read it all but I don’t want to violate guidelines by posting it all here.)
“He was imperfect, and he began to deal with crippling anxiety. He struggled to sleep. Regularly, he showed up late to the ballpark and committed mental mistakes on the field, and regularly he heard from manager Jared Sandberg.
“You can’t be late,” Sandberg told him. “You can’t not hustle. You can’t just do what you want to do.”
Toles did not disobey him because he felt like it. A larger battle waged within his brain. Some days, he felt fine. Most, he did not. And the bad days built. He likes to use a phrase to describe any undesirable situation: “That ain’t it.” He used it, and variations of it, to describe that time in his life. On the team, the tension was noticeable.
“Tolesy’s always been kind of Tolesy,” said Dodgers reliever Dylan Floro, who was that team’s other star. “He’s a hell of a baseball player. That’s all that really matters.”
The Rays set him up with Vince Lodato, their longtime consultant and a licensed psychologist. Lodato suggested medication and provided him with techniques to better breathe in stressful moments and to relax enough to sleep at night.”
I’d already mentioned the anxiety disorder but without as much detail because frankly I thought a personal medical issue really isn’t anybody’s business but his own, the people who he works for, and those are trying to help him though it. It’s sad really that we have to get into this, but I suppose it becomes necessary because some people are so happy to run the guy down. Anybody who does that needs to look in the mirror.
I agree, was hoping not to get into this either, but since I saw a lot of conjecture and some disparaging of his character without context, thought it important to get into it more.
Also as someone who has dealt with anxiety myself, maybe not to the extent toles has, I empathize and also know it can be good to be open about it, without stigma. Just my take on it, we all hope he’s getting help and will come back.
Best way to fight conjecture is with facts. Thanks, ‘dog!
Thanks for that window Underdog. There have been plenty of players that have dealt with mental health and related issues. Jim Eisenreich probably would have been a star but Tourette sidelined him for a number of years. Khalil Greene was crippled with anxiety and I think would have been a megastar without it. Rick Ankiel had his own battles with anxiety. The great Jimmy Piersall’s troubles were made into the pretty decent film Fear Strikes Out. And there have been plenty of others, but some of the judgment I see hear on this post is pretty despicable. These are real people with real issues and I think the least we can do, is provide a little understanding, a little empathy, a little compassion.
If you’re looking for understanding, empathy, and/or compassion, then I’m not sure you’re in the right place. Many MLBTR posters are quick to judge — and even quicker to shame.
All you drama queens on here have no idea what the issue is either, you guessing it’s mental illness is just as disparaging as others saying it’s attitude.
This is a forum for discussion, stop with the shaming already.
Whatever it is, good luck Tolesey
agreed
Downvote.
This is simple.. if it’s anxiety or something along those lines, Dodgers will do the right thing and help see him though.. hopefully. If it’s that, I’m definitely pulling for him. But If its him f’n around and acting like hes bigger than the team, they should ghost him.
Andrew Toles is a solid ball player if he has issues who doesn’t get him help to resolve these things. Remember Hanley Ramirez was a washed up player that the Marlins wanted to get rid of turned out his medical diagnosis was not correct. once diagnosed correctly he was hitting at a above 300 clip.. Toles needs help obviously .Hope he finds peace.