Freddie Freeman is in his ninth career postseason and third with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but 2024 represents a first for the veteran as he navigates a significant right ankle sprain.
Freeman suffered the injury on Sept. 26 and missed the Dodgers’ final series of the regular season that weekend. Entering play Wednesday, Freeman has been in the Dodgers lineup for six of their seven playoff games thus far.
His mobility is clearly hindered, but thankfully, there’s some confidence Freeman’s sprained ankle isn’t getting worse by playing on it, even if there’s a daily question about his availability.
“That’s a tough one to answer,” Freeman began. “I would say when I wake up, I know if I’m going to be able to make it through. We got a good plan. It takes me about four and a half hours to get ready for a game. But I mean, I’m getting used to it. I know what to expect day in and day out.
“It’s obviously not going to get better, but I think we’re at a good point where it’s not going to get worse unless I roll it again. But that’s why I’m spatting on the outside to keep it from rolling, because hitting bases, you just never know if it’s going to roll. So that’s why we’re spatting right now. But we’re in a good spot where it’s not getting worse when I’m playing on it, but it’s obviously not getting better either.”
In Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, Freeman scored from second base on a single by Max Muncy, giving the Dodgers a first-inning lead.
Pushing his ankle to the limit, Freeman joked about needing assistance from Mookie Betts to hold him up after crossing home plate.
“It is what it is,” Freeman said. “I’m just trying to push it and make sure I get it, especially with two outs. And in the first inning, you want to capitalize. You don’t want to be a base-to-base guy. So gave it all I got, I needed Mookie to stop me from falling over at the end.”
Freddie Freeman fills time during ankle treatment
The amount of time Freeman spends to prepare himself to play each day is significant. Starting that process much earlier than his Dodgers teammates, Freeman’s found a new way to pass time.
“I started doing crosswords for the first time this year,” Freeman said. “When I first came up, I envisioned that as older guys in the clubhouse doing crosswords. I think I’ve become one. But believe me, it’s not me just laying there in comfort.
“When you’re getting pushed on with a sprained ankle, it’s not very comfortable doing a lot of exercises too, modalities, movements to kind of wake it up. But I wish it was just laying there and them rubbing on me, but it’s usually not how it’s going.”
Freeman previously revealed this is the first time he’s sprained an ankle and Dodgers trainers said the injury would take upwards of four to six weeks to heal.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
