Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles was not at spring training camp for Monday's voluntary full squad reporting day because of an unspecified personal matter.
Manager Dave Roberts said there is no timeline for Toles' arrival. The mandatory reporting date is Saturday.
"We'll get Andrew here when things work out; he works through some personal things," Roberts said Monday. "He has our full support, certainly."
Roberts said Toles' absence was surprising.
"Obviously, things are sometimes unpredictable and family, personal issues obviously have to come before baseball," Roberts said.
Toles has a challenge to make the major league roster, even after outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp were traded to Cincinnati. Outfielders include A.J. Pollock, Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson and Alex Verdugo are on the roster, and Chris Taylor and Kike Hernandez could compete for time,
The left-handed hitting Toles spent most of last year at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he batted .306 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs in 71 games. He was the Dodgers' starting left fielder in the second half of 2016 and until May 9 the following year, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
Pederson is aware of speculation he could be traded.
"I guess it's nice to know that there are some other teams out there that would want you," he said.
____
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP\_Sports
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
