Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman admitted following the game Wednesday that he was sore all over, but he apparently avoided a serious injury after falling into the visitors’ dugout while pursuing a foul ball against the Kansas City Royals in Los Angeles.
Listed as day-to-day due to “total body soreness,” Freeman told reporters after the Dodgers’ 4-2 win he was still hopeful to play in the series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.
“I didn’t hit my head, so that was the key part there,” Freeman said. “I am sore. Kneecaps are sore, shoulder is sore, hand is sore, wrist is sore. I mean, I fell. I’m in good spirits. I’ve already cold-tubbed and done everything I can do to put myself in position to be able to hopefully play (Thursday).”
In the eighth inning, Kansas City left fielder Isaac Collins hit a foul pop to the right side. Freeman ranged over and appeared set to make the catch before he tumbled down the steps into the Royals’ dugout.
Freeman eventually got up, was checked by team personnel and briefly stayed in the game. However, when he was due to bat leading off the bottom of the inning, pinch hitter Tommy Edman replaced him.
After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “We really dodged a bullet,” but added it was unlikely that Freeman would play in the opener against Milwaukee.
Freeman went 1-for-2 with a walk on Wednesday and is batting .417 (30-for-72) over his past 19 games, raising his average from .284 to .306. He has 15 homers and 57 RBIs in 118 games this year.
The 2020 National League MVP earned his 10th career All-Star selection this year. He has three World Series championship rings, from the 2021 Atlanta Braves and the 2024 and 2025 Dodgers.