In order to ensure that Andrew Toles could continue getting his necessary health insurance and mental health treatments, the LA Dogers re-signed him to their roster on a 0 dollar deal.

Toles hasn’t played Major League Baseball on a professional level since the organization announced that he was out indefinitely due to personal issues in 2018. He was given a bipolar disease and schizophrenia diagnosis the following year, and he ran into legal issues when he was subsequently jailed for trespassing at Key West International Airport when police saw him dozing off behind a building. The event happened in 2020, and according to a police record, Toles was only carrying a black bag. Police also noted that Toles’ address was “the streets of Key West, Florida.” Even his family was concerned about his whereabouts at the time, and they referred to his mugshot as “the best thing ever” since it gave them peace of mind that he was still alive.

The 30-year-old’s mental health was obviously in bad shape, and the LA Dodgers have re-signed him to their team for another five years in an effort to hopefully keep getting him the help he needs. During this time, he will have access to all the medical and mental health resources that he needs.

The importance of resources and assistance for athletes’ mental health is also shown by Toles’ story. Athletes must have access to the care they need to maintain their mental health in a setting as stressful and competitive as professional athletics. Toles is assisting in removing the obstacles that keep athletes from getting treatment by sharing his experience. – Steve Sijenyi