Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
Freddie Freeman is entering his fifth season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and while he remains one of the team’s most productive bats, his numbers have fallen off a bit over the last two years.
Freeman has not posted a .300 batting average or .900 on-base plus slugging since the 2023 season, which was the last time he played in at least 161 games.
Freeman dealt with multiple injuries in 2024, including ankle trouble that required surgery the following offseason. He re-aggravated the injury in early 2025 and was hampered by lingering pain throughout the year.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes that Freeman is fully healthy again and has been impressed with his swing so far in Spring Training, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“Right now today is as good as I’ve seen his swing, over the course of a week sample, than I have in two years,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s in a good spot physically, mechanically. If we can keep him healthy, I just don’t see why he can’t have the year he expects and with everything that he went through the last couple years he was still productive. That says a lot, for me, about the character.”
Freeman admitted that he was limited at times last season because of his ankle surgery and now expects to have a more normal year in 2026:
“The whole offseason last year, I was seeing if I could get into a stance,” Freeman said, recalling the discomfort caused by his ankle injury. “And I hadn’t swung a bat until a day before Fanfest last year. So obviously just a normal offseason definitely helps.
“I had no offseason last year. I still thought I did all right. … I expect to play like I normally do. I thought I did all right with no offseason and nursing something for five straight months. It’s not what I’m used to, but I still think we did all right, and we won the World Series. If I can stay healthy, which I think I know how to do … I expect to play like I normally do.”
Freeman batted .328 with 160 extra-base hits and a .948 OPS in his first two seasons with the Dodgers, leading the Majors in doubles and placing in the top five in National League MVP voting each year.
Freeman still put up solid numbers in each of his past two seasons while dealing with the ankle trouble, but if he can get back to his previous form, there’s no telling how good the 2026 Dodgers lineup can be.
Freddie Freeman wants to retire with Dodgers
Freeman has only two more years remaining on his Dodgers contract, but made it clear that he wants to finish his career in L.A.
“I would like that, yeah,” Freeman said. “I love being here. I’m from Southern California. I’ve had a great time. The fans, you guys treat me great. Everyone’s treating my family good. So that’s out of my control.
“I’m not worried about another contract, not going to bring it up, not going to talk about it. I got two years left. I’m just an employee. I just do my job, and if they want me back, they want me back. But I think Andrew and everyone know that I love being here. So whatever happens, happens.”
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