Freddie Freeman missed two National League Championship Series games because of his right ankle sprain, but has since made his impact felt for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Freeman immortalized himself in franchise lore with an electrifying walk-off grand slam against the New York Yankees in Game 1 that has drawn comparisons to Kirk Gibson’s blast from 1988.
Freeman was back in the Dodgers lineup for Game 2 and hit another home run, which was his third extra-base hit of the World Series. He followed that with a two-run homer in the first inning of Game 3.
Prior to the Fall Classic, the eight-time All-Star was struggling to lift the ball in the air.
“I just feel like my ankle is in a good spot since about three days ago and been able to work really hard throughout the course of the week,” Freeman explained.
“I was working with Robert (Van Scoyoc) a lot. We found a little cue about three days ago, and I started hitting on the field three days ago, and it was a line-drive out to shortstop every single time. It has been a while since I’ve done that.
“I was feeling pretty well the last few days on the cue that I had. It’s not about lifting or doing any of that. If my swing’s in the right spot and you’re hitting line drives and your swing is in a good spot, that’s where you create backspin.
“I can’t create the spin. If I do, I’m going to topspin and hook everything. When your swing is good and direct to the ball, that’s how you create the backspin, and I was able to do it.”
Freeman said the change he made to his swing was more mental than physical.
“It’s weird. You know how I step kind of in? I was actually thinking, step out, even though I’m not stepping out,” Freeman explained. “It’s more of a mental thing. I don’t know how to translate that. I’m trying to think step out, but not actually step out. That’s the cue. It’s hard to explain, but it’s working.”
Freddie Freeman ties World Series record
Freeman enters play Tuesday night in a tie with George Springer for the MLB postseason record of hitting a home run in five consecutive World Series games.
Freeman’s streak began in 2021 when he helped lead the Atlanta Braves to a championship. He’s homered in all three games against the Yankees thus far and is likely to earn World Series MVP honors if the Dodgers capture their eighth championship in franchise history.
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