Freddie Freeman, the first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, missed Monday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves due to an injury sustained at home. Freeman slipped in the shower and hurt his right ankle, which he had previously undergone surgery on. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the incident, noting that Freeman’s ankle swelled up after the fall.
The injury comes after a challenging start to the season for Freeman, who had already been dealing with discomfort. He had been receiving treatment at the ballpark on his off day, Sunday, in hopes of being ready to play. Before the mishap, Roberts mentioned that Freeman’s ankle wasn’t completely healed, but he was still performing well at the plate.
Freeman, who has hit two home runs and brought in four RBIs in the first few games of the season, was initially sidelined from the Dodgers’ opening game in Tokyo due to rib discomfort. Despite feeling capable of playing, the team opted to let him rest for a day and reassess his condition for the following game.
Freeman’s injury history includes a sprained ankle from last September, which had affected his performance in the postseason, although he bounced back during the World Series. He had surgery in December to remove loose bodies from the ankle.
As the Dodgers entered their series against the Braves with a perfect 5-0 record, Freeman’s absence was noted by Braves manager Brian Snitker, who expressed concern for his former player and friend. Snitker suggested that Freeman take the necessary time off to ensure he is healthy for the long season ahead.
In his career against the Braves, Freeman has a strong record, hitting .299 with a .939 OPS in 20 games. He has four home runs and 12 RBIs against the team he played for during the first 12 years of his career. With Freeman resting, the Dodgers will look to maintain their winning streak while hoping for his quick recovery.