The Los Angeles Dodgers completed their 11th comeback win and second walk-off of the season on Monday night thanks in part to Kyle Tucker having his first signature moment with the team.
With two outs and runners on second and third base, Tucker lined a two-run base hit into center field to deliver a 5-4 win for the Dodgers. They trail only the Arizona Diamondbacks (12) in comeback wins this season.
But had Tucker only managed to tie the game, manager Dave Roberts revealed how the Dodgers planned to reshuffle their infield because of no longer having anyone available off their bench. Freddie Freeman was going to be impacted the most by moving across the diamond.
Why the Dodgers nearly moved Freddie Freeman to third base
Roberts began utilizing his bench pieces by having Alex Call and Miguel Rojas both pinch-hit in the seventh inning. Santiago Espinal then entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth and he was pinch-hit for by Dalton Rushing in the bottom of the ninth. Rushing represented the tying run at the plate and wound up working the Dodgers’ second consecutive walk.
Thus, if the Miami Marlins and Dodgers went into extra innings, Rushing was going to remain in the game at first base. That was going to force Freeman to third and Max Muncy over to second base.
The easiest transition was going to be for Rushing. In addition to serving as the Dodgers’ backup catcher, he’s made occasional starts at first base or entered off the bench to get Freeman rest since last season.
Muncy does have plenty of experience at second base, but hasn’t played the position since 2022.
But for Freeman, the there nearly was a first for him since the 2017 season. That was the year his only experience playing third base at the Major League level occurred. Freeman did so in 16 starts, all taking place in July of that season.
Freeman was moved off third base while developing in the Braves organization because of the presence of Hall of Famer Chipper Jones, who became a close friend of his.
Thus, the proposition of needing to quickly adapt to the position was one that understandably had the former National League MVP feeling a bit anxious.
Freeman does field ground balls at shortstop and third base before some games throughout the season. Those of course don’t compare to a game setting, much less in an extra-innings scenario where an automatic runner is placed at second base.
Fortunately for Freeman and the Dodgers, testing his positional versatility didn’t come to pass and they instead extended their winning streak to three games behind a late rally.
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