Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was all smiles as his crew gained Recreation 5 of the World Collection in opposition to the New York Yankees.
A whole lot of their success needed to do along with his at-bats.
Freeman was named World Collection MVP after he crushed 4 homers, one in all them Recreation 1’s walk-off grand slam within the backside of the tenth inning, and knocked in 12 runs in 20 at-bats.
It’s as spectacular a World Collection as you’ll be able to have individually, and much more so contemplating what Freeman was going via bodily.
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Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman reacts after making the ultimate out throughout the prime of the third inning in opposition to the New York Yankees in Recreation 4 of the 2024 World Collection at Yankee Stadium. (Brad Penner/Imagn Pictures)
Nevertheless, whereas everybody knew he went into the postseason with a sprained ankle after making an attempt to keep away from a tag, he was coping with a unique harm on prime of it.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan revealed Freeman had a rib ailment he was additionally combating via after feeling a “twinge in his rib cage when he took a swing throughout a simulated sport” previous to the postseason. The Dodgers had a bye as the highest seed within the Nationwide League, in order that they had been staying heat with simulated video games and different drills earlier than dealing with the San Diego Padres.
DODGERS’ FREDDIE FREEMAN WINS WORLD SERIES MVP WITH HISTORIC PERFORMANCE VS. YANKEES
Freeman initially tried to shake off the ache, realizing that the ankle was the true concern. Nevertheless, the rib harm obtained worse throughout a reside batting follow session at Dodger Stadium to the purpose Freeman “crumpled to the bottom.”
After getting an MRI, Freeman discovered he had damaged costal cartilage in his sixth rib, an harm that may sideline a participant for months.
Freeman’s father, Fred, revealed to ESPN he didn’t wish to see his son in ache, telling him to not play.
Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts (50) and Freddie Freeman (5) have fun after scoring in opposition to the New York Yankees throughout the fifth inning in Recreation 5 of the World Collection Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Picture/Seth Wenig)
“I truly informed him to cease,” Fred mentioned. “I mentioned, ‘Freddie, this isn’t price it. I do know you like baseball. I like baseball. But it surely’s not price what you are going via.’ And he checked out me like I used to be loopy, and he mentioned, ‘Dad, I am by no means going to cease.'”
Freeman’s choice led to MLB historical past. His 4 homers in 4 straight video games helped him break a World Collection file with homers in six straight video games within the World Collection, relationship to his 2021 championship with the Atlanta Braves.
And Freeman entered the sequence with the Yankees with out an extra-base hit within the postseason. He had seven singles and one stroll in opposition to the Padres and New York Mets.
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman celebrates after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in Recreation 5 to win the 2024 World Collection at Yankee Stadium. (Brad Penner/Imagn Pictures)
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Freeman launched his glove when Walker Buehler struck out Alex Verdugo for the ultimate out in Recreation 5, and if he was nonetheless coping with ache, he possible wasn’t feeling it as he celebrated along with his teammates after capturing his second ring.
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