What baseball player has a mental illness?

Andrew Toles and the Hidden Struggle Behind the Diamond

Andrew Toles once stood on major league baseball fields, a rising outfielder with speed, talent, and the kind of raw potential teams dream of. Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers between 2016 and 2018, he contributed to a playoff team, flashing brilliance in both the regular season and postseason. But behind the uniform and the highlights, Toles was battling something far more complex than any pitcher—his mental health.

Alvin Andrew Toles, born May 24, 1992, in Decatur, Georgia, had a path to the big leagues that wasn’t conventional. After being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012, Toles eventually found his way to the Dodgers via a minor league deal. His electric play made him a fan favorite in Los Angeles. Yet, just as his career began to take off, he began missing time—not due to injury, but due to a struggle few could see.

Toles was later diagnosed with schizophrenia, a condition that significantly impacted his ability to continue playing. The Dodgers placed him on the restricted list in 2018, and despite periods of treatment and stabilization, he never returned to the field. His story is one of immense promise shadowed by an invisible illness—one that, like so many others, doesn’t announce itself with a visible injury but with internal turmoil.

Today, Toles’ journey serves as a reminder that mental health doesn’t discriminate—not even at the highest levels of professional sports. His experience has sparked important conversations about how athletes are supported when facing psychological challenges. While his career ended prematurely, his story continues to resonate, underscoring the need for compassion, understanding, and better systems of care in professional athletics.