Freddie Freeman was among six Los Angeles Dodgers All-Stars named to this year’s National League team, which was an impressive number considering the amount of injuries they’ve dealt with.
But the extent of Dodgers injuries were evident in their 2024 All-Star selections as Mookie Betts (left hand fracture) and Tyler Glasnow (lower back tightness) weren’t able to play in the exhibition at Globe Life Field. Glasnow nevertheless traveled to Texas to be around Dodgers teammates at his first career All-Star Game.
Although the Dodgers have dealt with a rash of long-term injuries to key contributors, they enter the second half sitting atop the National League West standings and with the fifth-best record in baseball.
While speaking with the Fox Sports panel during 2024 All-Star Game Media Day, Freeman explained why he believes the Dodgers navigating a plethora of injuries could ultimately prove beneficial:
“We’ve dealt with a lot. As someone who has been around for a little bit now, I think it’s actually kind of good to go through some battles throughout the course of a season. Everyone on paper at the beginning of the year thinks we’re going to kind of do what everyone thought we were going to do and just kind of run through it.
“But when you get battle-tested throughout the course of the year, it actually can bring a group closer together. Over the last 40 games we’re like a .500 team. We’ve been grinding really hard through those 40, 45 games. That actually kind of helps, I think. … We’ve hit pretty much every speed bump you can possibly hit along the way throughout the course of this season. Hopefully that will make us stronger at the end.”
The coming weeks could see L.A. get closer to full health as Joe Kelly and Glasnow both are on the verge of returning, and Clayton Kershaw may not be far behind. Brusdar Graterol and Ryan Brasier are on the mend as well.
There is some uncertainty and concern with Max Muncy’s slow recovery from a right oblique strain, but Betts might get activated in early August.
Freddie Freeman’s steady season
Freeman’s done his part to help the Dodgers manage amid their growing list of injuries by putting together another productive campaign.
It included an uncharacteristically long stretch of scuffling, but Freeman comes out of the All-Star break batting .291/.395/.492 with 25 doubles, 14 home runs and 61 RBI.
Freeman has started every Dodgers game so far this season, leads all NL first basemen in doubles and is tied for second in RBI.
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