The Los Angeles Dodgers hope to repeat as World Series champions in 2025. For that to happen, they need to stay healthy. Over a 162-game season, injuries are inevitable, but Freddie Freeman’s lingering ankle issues are becoming a concern.
Freddie Freeman Needs Grueling Maintenance to Ankle
Freeman suffered an ankle injury towards the end of the 2024 season, which clearly affected him in the postseason. He had surgery to repair the issue in the offseason, but the recovery process has slowed as Freeman still needs grueling maintenance to take the field every day.
According to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, “The reigning World Series MVP has had a busy spring training. His surgically-repaired right ankle has required at least 90 minutes of treatment before he can even take the field and more than an hour of further maintenance after the day is done. But he’s been playing without tape on the ankle, and his swing looks just as pristine this spring.”
Freeman is one of the key cogs in the Dodgers’ lineup and is looking to add another chapter to his storied career in 2025. Entering his age-36 season, it will be interesting to see how much the Dodgers push him. It wouldn’t be surprising if they gave him extra rest days to keep him fresh.
Dodgers Considered the Overwhelming Favorite in 2025
The Dodgers have a deep roster, which will help them during the season as they deal with the unavoidable reality of injuries like Freeman’s. The roster flexibility will potentially allow them to give players like Freeman, Mookie Betts, and even Shohei Ohtani extra days off if needed.
The team will open the season in Japan as part of the Tokyo series. On March 18 and 19, the Dodgers will take on the Chicago Cubs in a two-game set. These exhibitions will count toward the clubs’ regular season records, so Freeman and the rest of the Dodgers’ regulars are expected to play in both.
SEE MORE: MLB Power Rankings
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Dodgers’ win total is set at 104.5 as of March 14, the highest in baseball. They are the overwhelming favorites to win the World Series at +240, the only team in the league with odds south of +900.
Coming off a World Series win, the Dodgers were not satisfied; they added Roki Sasaki, Tanner Scott, and Blake Snell to their already loaded team. Anything short of another championship would be a disappointment for the team and its fanbase.