Freddie Freeman was a last-minute scratch from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Opening Day lineup in the Tokyo Series. The first baseman was dealing with rib discomfort in the same area he broke his rib in the postseason.
With Freeman’s injury and outfielder Mookie Betts battling an illness, the Dodgers started the 2025 season without two of their star players. But fortunately for Los Angeles, Freeman gave the Los Angeles Times’ Jack Harris a promising update about his injury on Monday.
“Hopefully it will be an afterthought by Thursday,” Freeman said to Harris. “I was able to hit in the cage and do whatever I wanted to on the day of Game 2 [in Japan]. But just didn’t know, game-speed, if it would make it come up again. So I thought we ultimately made the right decision.”
Freeman also told Harris that he believes the discomfort was a result of scar tissue build up from his postseason rib injury. Freeman also said the injury healed enough to avoid an MRI.
Freddie Freeman said he hasn’t had any further issues with his rib, and feels confident that he was just working thru some scar-tissue build-up from where it had healed over the offseason
He said he progressed enough once the team got home last week that he didn’t need an MRI
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Freeman sustained broken rib cartilage just a day before the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. The eight-time All-Star also endured a sprained ankle through the Dodgers’ World Series run.
Despite two nagging injuries, Freeman prevailed to bring home the eighth World Series title in franchise history. In addition, the 35-year-old was named the World Series MVP after an impressive postseason performance at the plate.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Freeman’s most recent rib injury was “not as severe” as the one he dealt with in the postseason.
Freeman was back in the Dodgers lineup for Sunday’s spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. He played in the first two games of the series but has yet to record a hit since returning.
Meanwhile, Betts has yet to make his return to the lineup. But Roberts said Betts will likely play in Tuesday’s series final against the Angels.
