Before Freddie Freeman, the LA Dodgers were already a team stacked with superstars like Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, Clayton Kershaw and who not. Still, there was something that always pushed back the Dodgers every time they would play postseason games. But as per the Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts, it was Freeman only who brought that ‘desire‘ to Los Angeles for the championship. Acknowledging Freeman’s winning mentality, his Dodger teammate Gavin Lux even said, “He’s different, man. He’s a different breed. We all see him out there competing his ass off, even though he can barely walk, and it just makes us compete even harder.” That hunger ultimately led the Dodgers to the 2024 World Series title, with Freeman earning MVP honors. But what if we told you that just last season, the very same Freeman nearly bid farewell to the game?

The 2024 offseason for the LA Dodgers was for the ages. Landing Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow in a single offseason, the Dodgers could not have asked for a better free agency window. A team already loaded with superstars, it was evident that the Dodgers were favorites for the World Series. But just when the Dave Roberts-led side started picking up its pace, they met with a huge setback in July 2024. After losing out a couple of series against the Phillies and Tigers, the Dodgers finally made a comeback with back-to-back series wins against the Red Sox and SF Giants—six wins out of the last seven games, to be precise. But while the Dodgers were on the road for a crucial series against the Houston Astros, Freeman had to leave the team midway for a family emergency. Freeman’s 3-year-old son Max Freeman was fighting for his life.

According to Chelsea Freeman, Freddie’s wife, their son had transient synovitis, a temporary condition that causes hip inflammation and typically occurs in young boys. The emotional toll was so intense that it nearly forced Freddie to make the hardest choice an athlete could ever make. Choosing between family and the sport he loves. “There was a point, like, if Max didn’t get better, I don’t know if Freddie would have gone back to playing,” Chelsea confessed.

The emotional toll was so intense that it nearly forced Freddie to make the hardest choice an athlete could ever make. Choosing between family and the sport he loves. “There was a point, like, if Max didn’t get better, I don’t know if Freddie would have gone back to playing,” Chelsea confessed. “So Max getting better in itself is a miracle and then for Freddie to be able to finish the way that he did … I feel like we needed that.”

While we witnessed Freddie’s resilience and commitment on the field, the real battle for him was happening off it. With chronic injuries adding to the pressure, Freddie struggled to even get out of bed, let alone swing for the fences. However, Freddie pulled off one of the most memorable moments in World Series history, launching a game-winning homer that sent the Dodgers blues into a frenzy!

For the Freeman family, this homer was not just a triumph but a testament that miracles do exist—one that saw Max’s recovery and Freddie making a comeback on the field. Their journey is a powerful reminder that the most challenging victories aren’t measured by home runs or silverware but by the strength of the people behind them. While lil Max is on course to his recovery and is all set to play Little League with his brothers, Brandon and Charlie, Freddie missed out on the historic Tokyo Series against the Cubs.

Freddie Freeman scratched from the Tokyo opener due to discomfort

In an unexpected turn of events, Los Angeles Dodgers‘ star first baseman Freddie Freeman was sidelined from the team’s opening-day lineup. The reason? A left rib discomfort. The news has sent shockwaves through the Dodgers fanbase as it leaves a significant gap in the Dodgers’ offense against the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome. Freeman, who dealt with a rib injury during last year’s postseason, had mentioned that rest had helped ease the discomfort.

While he had previously reassured fans that rest, this new issue has raised concerns. Could it be a recurrence of the same injury, or is this a new setback entirely? While most of the focus was on his ankle, which visibly annoyed him during the postseason, this latest setback has raised new concerns about his health heading into the new season. The timing of this latest issue is especially concerning given that Freeman was considered to be fully recovered heading into the full season.

As the Dodgers take the field without their star slugger in Tokyo, the question remains: can they overcome this unexpected challenge? Freeman’s absence on Opening Day could be more than just a missed game. It is a pivotal moment that puts his early season health into sharp focus.

With the world watching in Tokyo, the Dodgers will have to find a way to rally—while hoping that Freeman’s discomfort isn’t a sign of dreadful things to come.