Welcome back to another installment of “Making Your Mental Health a Priority,” a series of articles on sports biggest stars and athletes in their battles with mental health. If you’re new to the content, I advise you to read my other articles to catch-up. Enough with the introduction, let’s get down to business.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles has been through it all in his young career. A solid baseball player who could make any roster and produce some highlights like many role players in the sport. But his troubles began early in his college days at University of Tennessee. Playing for the Volunteers, he was dismissed by coach Dave Serrano, citing “a certain standard of accountability to which every member of the team must be held.”
Now, you’re likely wondering what this standard was in general. To that, it wasn’t disclosed by Serrano and Toles was removed from the school and baseball program. This came after being named to the SEC All-Freshman team in 2011. Nobody knew the internal battles which troubled Andrew; but the unraveling would follow upon being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012.
During his tenure with the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, Andrew was criticized by manager Jared Sandberg. Due to his lack of physical accountability in not running hard to first and being removed for not hustling. In baseball, guys must make the extra plays for the team to succeed. Andrew was clearly struggling but how it was received by his coaches started to discourage him in several ways. Toles left the team after being placed on the inactive list for “personal reasons” missing two months of the season. From there, the worst days were slowly creeping with Andrew.
During a time, which he struggled, all of it became known in 2015; as his mental health issues became public. Toles struggled with anxiety and sleep issues. This resulted in showing up late to the ballpark and making mental mistakes on the field. He eventually asked for a release from the Rays and spent time recovering in a mental health facility. Between the 2015 and 2016 Major League Baseball seasons, Andrew worked in the frozen food sections of a Georgia Kroger grocery store. From there, it felt like his baseball career would hinge on if he could handle the pressure.
Andrew was able to find a new home in Los Angeles during the winter of 2015-16. Things were looking bright as he was called up on July 8th, 2016. Making his debut starting at center field against division rival the San Diego Padres. Hitting one out of four bats with a double in his first plate appearance. A first homerun on August 22nd, 2016, off Josh Smith, pitcher of the Cincinnati Reds; a grand slam on August 31st, 2016, against the Colorado Rockies. He was playing good baseball and understood his role with the Dodgers. A strong finish of .314 batting average in 48 games with three homeruns and 16 RBIs. The postseason numbers were better with .364 batting average with 22 at bats.
A torn ACL injury in 2017 derailed a follow-up dream season; he was placed on the disabled list and season ending surgery followed for Andrew. In just 31 games, a .271 batting average with 5 homeruns and 15 RBIs. What could’ve been an all-star longshot was over and Andrew fell back into a dark space of the unknown. He managed to return in 2018, but the numbers fell even lower. .233/.281/.300 Afterwards, he spent most of the season with Oklahoma City, where he hit .306 in 71 games.
Andrew didn’t report to spring training in 2019 and the Dodgers announced he was dealing with a “personal matter.” All moments of uncertainty reared its ugly head in 2020; where he was arrested and jailed for a misdemeanor charge of trespassing on June 20th, 2020, after police found him sleeping behind Key West Airport and refusing to leave the area.
A once promising baseball player listed his address “the streets of Key West,” Andrew drifted through many hospitals and homeless shelters until his father gained guardianship. This was the turning point for Andrew as his metal diagnosis of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia finally hit close to home. This was his dark space in hiding from teams, which some likely knew, but didn’t disclose during pressers.
The stigma surrounding mental health in sports has been closed for many years. Andrew didn’t have the right resources to help him navigate and unusual behavior followed him all his life. For all the ups and downs, Andrew Toles has been signed to the Dodgers every season so he can have access to the team’s health insurance. These contracts are non-salary and he’s placed on the restricted list for the entire season.
Andrew has been a mystery baseball player; but this is due to the stigma of mental health. If Andrew had been able to cope early in his career, imagine the star player he’d be right now.
Mental health is a real issue and how athletes hide from it can be detrimental further down the road. More and more athletes are opening up about their struggles. Athletes are human beings and deal with real issues as common everyday people battle. When pressure mounts and becomes too heavy, athletes shy away from reality and live in fantasy to avoid being labeled “weak.”
Andrew Toles continues to be a voice and create safe space for baseball players. Don’t allow society to dictate who you are as a man. Do all you can to protect and heal along this road to redemption. Hopefully, you’ll be able to publish a book detailing your personal battles to save current and future baseball players’ careers. Allow your family to help you in this battle; for they can become a strong support group as well.
As always, continue making your mental health a priority.
Stai tuned.
