The Los Angeles Dodgers are gearing up to defend their World Series title. Last year’s team was loaded with talent, and the front office went out and spent in free agency again. This team still has a perennial MVP candidate in Shohei Ohtani, plus other top-tier players at different positions. One of the most important veterans on the team is Freddie Freeman. He had a huge postseason but many forget he had ankle surgery in late December. This weekend, he provided an update on the rehab and his timeline for returning to the field.
Los Angeles Dodgers Freddie Freeman On Ankle Injury
Freddie Freeman still has some work to do on his ankle. The 35-year-old still cannot run unassisted, and he is not supposed to be swinging a bat. However, he revealed to reporters he broke that rule. “I couldn’t help myself,” he said. While this may sound like Freeman is far away from returning, he revealed he is on track to play in the Los Angeles Dodgers March 18 opener in Tokyo, Japan.
“I am perfectly on track for that. We’ll get a better sense when I’m not in an inflated bubble helping me run, but probably middle of next week by the end of the next week I’ll have a really good sense of how I’m feeling.”
“The goal is 162 (games). Hopefully it’s 161 because I always take the game off after we win the division. … I’m doing everything I can to make sure I’m ready for 162.”
This is great news if you are a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Freeman’s ability to stay on the field makes him such an asset. Many talented players struggle with nagging injuries throughout the year, limiting their ability to perform. It is easy to look at this roster and think injuries don’t matter. There’s so much talent the next person simply steps up, right? While this may be the case for most of the roster, there are a few players who feel irreplaceable, and Freddie Freeman is on that list.
2025 Outlook
The Los Angeles Dodgers hitting lineup will look very similar to last year. In free agency, they focused on the pitching. They brought in former Cy Young winner Blake Snell in November. While he had a down year last year, he still has shown he has elite stuff. The team then signed Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki to a deal, helping bolster a rotation that looked shaky at times in 2024. A day later, they fortified the bullpen, signing Tanner Scott to a four-year deal.
Ohtani will also boost the pitching staff. A recent report indicated he could be ready to pitch in April. It will be interesting to see how they handle his return to the mound. They don’t need him right away and have been open about easing him back in. Will they throw him right into the starting rotation, or will they give him some bullpen work first? That remains to be seen, but this is like getting another pitcher, except they already paid for him last year.
Final Thoughts
It will be difficult to unseat the Los Angeles Dodgers this season. However, winning back-to-back championships is a difficult task. No team has done it in baseball in a quarter century. They will have a target on their backs, as every team would love to take down the behemoth that is the Dodgers. The season is right around the corner, and love them or hate them, the Dodgers are must-see television for sports fans.
