Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles was arrested on a trespassing charge in Florida on June 22, Gwen Filosa of the Miami Herald reports. Police found Toles asleep in his car behind the Key West Airport, and he was jailed after he refused to leave the scene. Toles remained at the Stock Island Detention Center on a $500 bond on Friday, according to Filosa. He has a court date scheduled for July 2.
This is the latest sad development for Toles, who has dealt with personal struggles dating back to his time in college, as Michael Duarte of NBC 7 San Diego detailed a few years ago. The University of Tennessee’s baseball team dismissed Toles in 2011 for lacking a “certain standard of accountability,” leading him to transfer to Chipola Junior College, where he battled anxiety issues. While Toles still went to the Rays in the third round of the 2012 draft, they ultimately released him for “personal reasons” before the 2015 campaign.
After his time with the Rays concluded, Toles went home to Georgia and bagged groceries, hoping to land another major league opportunity. Toles received that chance when the Dodgers signed him to a minor league pact in October 2015. He then produced quality numbers as a major leaguer in 2016-17, hitting .294/.341/.483 (119 wRC+) with 1.8 fWAR in 217 plate appearances. But Toles suffered an ACL tear in May 2017, ending his season, and then spent most of the next year in Triple-A.
Toles didn’t play at all last year, as the Dodgers placed him on the restricted list in March 2019 on account of an undisclosed personal matter. According to Roster Resource, the 28-year-old remains on the list. Ken Gurnick of MLB.com wrote in February that Toles also wasn’t expected to be in the mix for the Dodgers this season. This week’s arrest casts further doubt on whether Toles will return at any point.
Hope he gets the help he obviously needs.
It’s too bad he can’t get things together as he has put up some impressive numbers in the minors (and briefly in the majors). But he definitely seems like he has ML talent if only he could focus on baseball!
Kind of sucks that he has to have his personal life posted all over the internet. He isn’t even that big of a celebrity. We need to be bored out of our minds to see this as newsworthy. Leave the poor guy alone.
Although I’m not into the tabloid stuff I am interested in hearing about Dodgers news…too bad to hear he’s having issues still, hope he’s able to get things straightened out in his personal life
I didn’t enjoy writing it any more than you enjoyed reading it, but as a baseball news site, we have to cover this sort of thing.
If I’m a Dodger fan I ABSOLUTELY want to read this. Don’t let others sway you from reporting news that’s relevant to a team’s roster. Nice job Connor.
Thanks, Gary!
Agreed! Good reporting. When they placed him on the restricted list last year, but never gave any explanation for it, you kind of figured it wasn’t good. Sure hope the best for Andrew!
I read elsewhere he failed to report to ST and that was what started the process to the restricted list?
Yeah Connor, you did this in as dignified a way as you could, respect.
Really hope he can get the mental healthcare he needs.
He looked like a solid major leaguer. That’s why people care. If it was a bad team, he wouldn’t get nearly as much press, IMO
While I totally get what you are saying, in this case the reporting seems to have done some good. It is my understanding that many (including the Dodgers, MLB, and fans) have reached out to help.
What really sucks is that he had the chops to play in the bigs and petered it away.
Really, “petered it away”? That sounds like he was just weak or lazy. This is clearly a man who is sick and needs help. Very sad.
That is not the way the media works “kick em when they’re up-kick em when they’re down” I hope things work out for the kid.
So it’s illegal to sleep in your car? Is the guy homeless? Seems like a weird thing to get sent to the can over.
He was jailed after he refused to leave the scene…
I realize disrespecting the police is in vogue, but if you get caught sleeping in car and a police officer asks you to leave… Find another place to park.
You speak as if Toles currently has the same mental capacity as you do.
Don’t do that. Ever.
Perhaps, refusing to leave the scene has something to do with the arrest?
This situation was at an Airport which kind of changes things than if he was in a parking lot at Walmart or Del Taco. We all know that the security at Airports are more stringent than many other places.
Sounds like you’re new to this. It’s a thing called private property. You can’t just park wherever you feel like. Maybe tonight I’ll come park in your front yard and you’ll see what I mean.
That will just be confusing for him. I think he’s more accustomed to random guys parking in his back yard…
Ok edgelord…make sure you ask your mom if it’s ok to drive her car
the airport is public airport. now, what, mr. genius?
It’s still private property. Just because it’s open to the public doesn’t not make it private property.
McDonalds is open to the public, but it’s still private property. If the owner asks me to leave and I refuse, I can be arrested.
if you cannot see the differece between publicly owned and operated airport and mcdonalds, you are in need of a brand new brain.
That publicly owned airport is still property of the state, county, or city govt. They have the right to trespass anyone they want to. Can’t you go to sleep and live in city hall, or congress? Didn’t think so.
Another story mentioned he had no address and the arrest report listed ‘streets of’ as where in the city he lived.
The sad part is it appears the team is more interested in black-balling his playing rights and going to another team instead of getting him into treatment and helping him.
Clearly he could hit. You’d think the organization would’ve done more to help him. Maybe they did and we don’t kow, but, certainly doesn’t look that way.
Imagine if a team cast grienke aside for his anxiety issues like this, baseball would’ve been poorer.
Lackofvizionaire is more accurate. Lol
Catarac surgery needed.
You guys are acting like little kids. It is obvious this “kid” has some problems and he needs help–not scorn. I assume he must be black also and before you say it–I am white.
Agreed!
@Hudsoto – stfu coward
It is if your car is parked on someone else’s property. You can’t park your car on someone’s front lawn and then claim you were just in your car and then claim it wasn’t illegal. because you were in your car.
Sounds like he is homeless or broke, considering his bail is set at $500 and he’s still in custody. Someone should help him out and post the bail (ex teammate or family), it’s not like he’s in for sexual assault or robbery. To hold someone in jail for trespassing is ridiculous anyways, he should’ve been cited and sent on his way.
He maybe better off in jail. I dont really know his story, but if hes suffering mental health issues, and is homeless, then at least hes got bed, food, stability, and someone observing his mental health
One time, my friends and I decided to do a RV road trip from LA to Las Vegas. We were trashed and parked our camper overnight at a Walmart lot. At about 6am, security kindly asked us to leave as they were opening. Gave us fifteen minutes to move out or we’ll get trespassed and the cops called on. Had we refused, cops have the choice to arrest all of us.
You are doing your job and I was glad to learn something about his whereabouts. Liked him as a Dodger and let’s hope that he overcomes his demons.
I was unaware of his troubled history. I had always thought he was drafted by the Dodgers. I had thought he would become a regular. Too bad!!
I knew they had signed him to a minor league deal a few years back (I didn’t know who drafted him originally), but I assumed he was released for performance reasons and that the Dodgers just made another one of their sneaky under-the-radar signings.
He was suspended a few times in the Rays org before they cut him, then he was working in a grocery store, then he signed with the Dodgers. Apparently his anxiety was too much to bare for him in a baseball game, but if he’s now homeless then there’s something more serious or sinister in play.
Not necessarily. If he has severe enough anxiety that he cant hold down a job or be around ppl. And just lil bit I’ve read, I’d think that’s the case
unfortunately, theres a good chance narcotics are involved here as well
This is sad to read. Having an MLB career, even a short one, can set you up for life. When I was young, I was on a pretty self-destructive path myself. I got off of it soon enough to not destroy my future but it also cost me a couple really great opportunities. I wish better for Toles.
I hear you. Myself as well, on a major self-destructive path. I’m sure many of us can say at the same time, “I’m surprised I’m not dead.” LOL. Thank goodness later I happened to hang around guys better than me to lead as examples.
Yup being young and immature can be really dangerous and hopefully you can get out of it without causing much damage. Same thing happened to my cousin. He was a huge troublemaker and around age 27 some switch flipped in his head and now I don’t anyone more responsible than him or anyone who logs in more hours at work.
Nice post
the league and union have to have better mecanism to protect their players. since he had prior issues they should have counceling available to him.
Individual organizations should have some accountability in providing mental health services too
The dodgers have had him in the restricted list for over a year. I’m sure they’ve had counseling available to him.
I’m sure Toles has been in therapy and the organization has monitored the situation. For you to say the league and union have to do a better job without facts or evidence to back up your ignorant comment is absurd. At some point the onus has to be on Toles.
Would you send a wife to jail for a husband committing a murder or drunk driving? No. Well, maybe you would.
Correct me if I’m wrong – this is the guy that was looking good as a 4th ish outfielder for the Dodgers until he tore his ACL running down a ball during a no hitter? Julio Urias was pitching I believe?
Without researching, that sounds about right.
Yep. Looked like he was going to catch it and it tore on his last step as he was putting his glove up.
I use to play ball with him when he was very young… he was so dedicated to the sport at such a young age it was impressive. Personally, I would have never predicted what has ultimately ended up happening to him. Life can definitely do some work on folks…
I’m really glad this story is getting the coverage it is, including on this website. This isn’t random gossip like a guy being spotted out and about cheating on his wife or something; It sounds like Toles needs some serious help and maybe bringing his situation to light will help him receive it.
I’m very sad to hear what’s happened to Andrew! I’m hoping the Dodgers will reach out to him and give him the help and support he needs right now!
This is sad. I hope he can get help for whatever issues he has.
Why is it “sad” to fall asleep in your car and get harassed by the cops?
He has a history of having difficulties with mental health.
Mmmmmmmmmmkay.
Oh dear
Chetslemons- are u a cop hater too? Go call your social worker next time someone is asleep in their car in your driveway then
My wife struggled with mental illness (including anxiety disorder) and multiple suicide attempts. She would cry as she struggled to understand what she was going through and how nothing seemed to help. She lost herself and then she lost her life. Me and the kids miss her horrible but at least she is at peace. Mental illness is not a joke. My heart goes out to this young man.
And my heart goes out to you. Thanks for sharing your experience.
<3
Troubled young man. Prayers
Out of curiosity, why was an entire discussion thread removed from here?
Probably something inappropriate if I had to guess. Keep it civil, guys
Yea I figured something like that. Too bad.
keysso.net/arrests Guy looks homeless
Perfect example of why more needs to be done to research and help mental health issues. Dudes obviously got ml level skills, yet cant hold down a job as a major leaguer or grocery sacker and living in a car, giving cops a hard time. I’m sure most view him as “problem child”, but I guarantee dudes got mental issues, probably knows it, but doesnt know what to do or how to get help. I know from personal experience, mental health help is easy to find, has long waiting lists, isn’t cheap and more often than not ppl give up before they get help they need
Idk what the Dodgers have done behind the scenes to help him, I really hope they have, but this just stresses the role that teams have in taking care of their players beyond the game. Teams should be responsible for mental health services considering the investment that they place in the players and the number of off the field issues players have. Maybe they already do take care of that, I’m not that informed about the situation, but when teams are making millions off these guys they should be responsible for taking care of them off the field after they’re done playing.
How about we all take responsibility for our own lives and poor decisions?
Praying for the best for the young man. Sucks for him but choices matter. Hopefully he takes responsibility and can move forward in life