Freddie Freeman appears to have escaped a serious injury after a frightening tumble into the visitors’ dugout during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.
The scary moment came in the eighth inning, when Freeman chased an Isaac Collins foul ball toward the first-base side. The 36-year-old tracked the popup all the way to the dugout, stepped onto the stairs and then fell inside while trying to make the catch.
For several moments, the situation looked concerning.
Freeman remained down as members of the Dodgers’ training staff attended to him. Considering how awkwardly he went into the dugout, there was immediate concern about whether Los Angeles had just lost one of the most important players in its lineup.
Freddie Freeman stays in game after scary dugout fall
Instead, Freeman eventually got back to his feet and returned to first base. He finished the top half of the eighth inning before Tommy Edman pinch-hit for him when Freeman’s spot came up to lead off the bottom half.
The impact left Freeman dealing with soreness throughout his body, particularly in his left shoulder and hand. But the initial evaluation brought relatively encouraging news.
Manager Dave Roberts said after the game that Freeman was considered “day-to-day” while the Dodgers monitor how his body responds following the fall.
“Dave Roberts said Freddie Freeman is experiencing body soreness after falling into the visiting dugout. He is considered day-to-day,” Dodger Insider reported on X.
The timing could also give Los Angeles some flexibility. The Dodgers open a series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, and Roberts reportedly already intended to give Freeman Friday off before Wednesday’s incident. The club can now evaluate him before deciding whether that planned rest will be enough or whether he needs additional time out of the lineup.
Dodgers complete sweep behind three home runs
Wednesday’s win completed a three-game sweep of Kansas City and moved Los Angeles to 73-48. The Dodgers hold an 8.5-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League West despite going 4-6 over their last 10 games entering the Milwaukee series.
Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Hunter Feduccia each homered in the finale. Ohtani delivered the biggest blow with a two-run homer in the third inning that put the Dodgers ahead for good, while Feduccia provided another run with a solo shot in the fifth.
Still, Freeman’s condition became the most pressing issue coming out of the victory.
The 10-time All-Star remains a major piece of a Dodgers lineup pursuing a third consecutive World Series championship. The 2020 National League MVP and 2024 World Series MVP has spent years as one of the club’s most dependable hitters, making the sight of him disappearing into the dugout particularly alarming.
Dodgers can afford to be cautious with Freeman
For now, the Dodgers have avoided the worst-case scenario.
Freeman walked away from the fall, stayed in the field long enough to finish the half-inning and received a day-to-day designation rather than an immediate diagnosis of a significant injury. The next question is how much soreness develops after the adrenaline wears off.
With a scheduled day of rest already part of the plan, Los Angeles can afford to be cautious. After the way Freeman went into the dugout Wednesday night, a little extra time on the bench may be a small price to pay.
