Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was out of the lineup Monday night against the Atlanta Braves after slipping in the shower and injuring his surgically repaired right ankle.
“He had a little accident getting into the shower,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It swelled up a little bit.”
The 2024 World Series MVP was injured at home last weekend and went to the ballpark on Sunday, an off day, for treatment.
Before the injury, Roberts said Freeman’s ankle “wasn’t 100%, but still, obviously the way he was hitting, he was in good shape.”
Freeman has a record of 3 for 12 with two home runs and four RBIs to start the season. He was ruled out of the Dodgers’ season opener in Tokyo due to discomfort in his left rib.
“He feels like he can go out and play, but let’s let him recover today and see how he is tomorrow,” Roberts said. “Most of the time, he’s always kicking and screaming (to play).”
Freeman twisted his right ankle on a play at first base in late September and struggled through the first two rounds of the postseason, but it was barely noticeable during the World Series. He hit home runs in the first four games and had 12 RBIs as the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in five games.
Freeman underwent debridement surgery in December to remove loose bodies from the ankle.
The Dodgers came into their first game of the series against Freeman’s former team, the Braves, with a 5-0 record.
Freeman is batting .299 with a .939 OPS in 20 games against the team he played the first 12 years of his career with. He has four home runs, 12 RBIs, four doubles, a triple and 13 walks in those games.
When told that Freeman would not play, Braves manager Brian Snitker said: “Good”. He was Freeman’s manager in Atlanta and they are still friends.
“I haven’t talked to him, but if he has any problems, I hope he takes three days off,” Snitker said with a smile. “I want to make sure he’s ready for the long season.”
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