Suiting up after a hard-earned celebration, Freddie Freeman reflected on the toughest months of his career. With scars on his body as well as his mind, Freeman talked about the difficulties he had to overcome before the Los Angeles Dodgers won their 11th division championship in 12 seasons. After the season’s toll, Dodgers’ modern-day ironman Freddie seems both relieved and worn out. 

Freeman was obviously suffering the effects, as evidenced by his right foot in a boot due to a damaged ankle and his right hand’s broken middle finger. But those physical injuries were nothing compared to the emotional rollercoaster of the season; the loss of his close friend Jason Heyward right before the final month hit hard. But that wasn’t all. Maximus, Freeman’s 3-year-old son, was in the hospital for a serious condition and needed to be looked after.

The personal challenges of Freddie Freeman

Maximus, the youngest child of Freeman, was hospitalized in July, suffering a rare neurological condition called Guillain-Barré syndrome, which made him momentarily paralyzed. “It’s been the hardest year of his career, rightfully so,” Dave Roberts, manager of the Dodgers said, according to The Athletic, while adding, “I’ve never seen a dad, a husband as present with their families during a season as he is. At some point in time with what he’s had to deal with, it’s taken a toll on him.” Roberts also realized Freeman needed a vacation; he had only missed two games in his three seasons with the Dodgers prior to Max becoming ill, both in post-clinch circumstances.  

Nonetheless, Freddie Freeman made his triumphant return that month. With Maximus finally discharged from the hospital, Freeman was prepared to swing on the day his son’s ventilator was taken out. The support that flooded in from across the league was nothing short of heartwarming; when he walked into the clubhouse, each chair was adorned with T-shirts emblazoned with #MaxStrong in bold, heroic font. The week after, Freeman took the mound with bats bearing the names of his three kids, Brandon, Charlie, and Maximus, along with that same encouraging note. In those moments, it was clear: Freeman wasn’t just playing for himself.

Freeman’s tough season on the field 

In terms of baseball, Freddie has struggled mightily to find his rhythm over the first few months of the year. Every swing seemed like a struggle since the 35-year-old was always thinking he was “cutting” it, not allowing his barrel enough time to make meaningful contact in the striking zone. Freeman was frustrated by it, particularly during a period this season – he was unable to perform his customary pregame hitting routine due to a fractured finger.  

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For someone so dedicated to his craft, it felt like a blow. While he’s been more open to adjusting his routine—taking the Dodgers’ training staff’s advice, there’s something about the rhythm of hitting that just can’t be replaced. “A lot of learning this year,” Freddie Freeman said, and you could feel the weight of those words. Despite all the ups and downs, Freddie has still managed to be productive.  

While his .854 OPS is the lowest since 2015, Freeman’s 143 OPS+ is notable considering the generally poor offensive environment this season – it’s higher than in any of his three previous full seasons with Atlanta. The Dodgers will definitely need that kind of performance, especially as they gear up for the postseason, they would want him in the lineup, assuming his sprained ankle is good to go when they kick things off on Saturday. Do you think Freeman will get the job done? Share in the comments below.