May 2nd, 2019 at 2:00 pm 
by Ron Cervenka When position players reported for spring training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona on February 18, everyone was there; all 21 non-roster invitees and everyone on the Dodgers 40-man roster.
…except one.
Missing was 26-year-old outfielder Andrew Toles.
The extremely popular and extremely quiet Decatur, Georgia native and 2013 third-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays out of Chipola College in Marianna, Florida didn’t show up the next day either … or the next … or the next. In fact, he never showed up. And when the team finally broke camp to head home to Los Angeles, Toles was dropped from the Dodgers 40-man roster to make room for someone else and was placed on the team’s restricted list. Even then, no one had heard a word from or about him.
Understandably, the Dodgers said absolutely nothing about Toles’ absence, and rightfully so. Unfortunately, and as a result of Toles’ past history of the exact same thing with the Tampa Bay Rays organization, rumors and speculation ran rampant among Dodger fans. Although it has never been substantiated and presumably never will, the biggest (and, quite frankly, most believable) rumor is that the one-time Dodgers star had a substance abuse problem; be it drugs or alcohol.
But here again, this is pure speculation, as there has been no official word from the Dodgers other than what they continue to call “personal issues.”
And then on Monday afternoon and completely out of the blue, it was being widely reported that Toles had reported to Camelback Ranch for extended spring training, albeit while still on the Dodgers restricted list; but at least we now know that he is alive and (hopefully) well.
“He’s there trying to get back into shape,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters prior to Wednesday night’s game in San Francisco. “How long that takes remains to be seen, but I’m happy to have him back and working.”
If you are among those who read between the lines (as they say), you undoubtedly get the sense that Roberts is not entirely convinced that Toles will “get back into shape” enough that the Dodgers would be willing to roll the dice on him again … at least not at the major league level. Then again, if he can do at (presumably) Triple-A Oklahoma City what he did for the Dodgers when he broke on-scene in late 2016 (.314 / .365 / .505 / .870 with three home runs and 16 RBI in the 48 games in which he played), who knows?
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
We’re all pulling (and praying) for you, Andrew. Don’t blow it.
Play Ball!
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Posted in 
I was a fan from the time he seemingly came out of nowhere to establish himself with the Dodgers.
Two years ago he seemed to have the everyday LF job wrapped up, only to blow out his ACL. Then last year he’s ready to reclaim the job only to have a rejuvenated Matt Kemp beat him out.
So this year I was really looking forward to seeing him compete for the job again. Then this.
I think you’re right that this is his last chance, not just with the Dodgers but in MLB.
I hope he doesn’t blow it.
If the Dodger brass aren’t saying anything about why he went “AWOL” prior to ST this year, then it’s a safe bet that they know EXACTLY why he never showed up. Geez, this reeks of Justin Hamilton all over again and fortunately for the Dodgers it appears that Verdugo has already taken Toles’ place on the parent club roster for good. As for Toles himself, he’s pretty much fighting for a big-league spot anywhere at this point so I pray he catches on with another organization once he gets himself back into actual baseball shape (if he ever does). Best of luck to him!
JOSH Hamilton, I meant.
Comments I read earlier gave me the impression that the Dodgers knew all along what was going on. This is the first I’ve read that the team knew nothing.
Of course the team knows exactly what is going on but nobody should speculate about ehat it is. We don’t even know if he has been able to workout at any level. So his going to Camelback shows there’s progress, how long it takes him to get back in shape we can’t know because we don’t know what he has been doing. But once he’s back in shape the next step would be minor league games.
Then he has to be productive before the Dodgers or any other team would be interested. And btw any team would want full disclosure before signing him, even to a minor league contract.
And unless the Dodgers have more injuries he doesn’t seem to have a spot on the major league roster.
But getting paid to play baseball in the minors might be better than a non baseball job.
It’s good to know that Toles is back in uniform and is trying to get back in shape over at Camelback Ranch.
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