Dodgers Make Worrying Announcement About NL Batting Leader
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The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, have been anything but dominant over the past month. In fact, they've been a .500 team — winning 15 and losing 15 in their last 30 games.
The reason?
There are a lot of reasons, of course, but perhaps the most important is injuries. The Dodgers currently have 14 pitchers on the injured list — a typical major league pitching staff consists of 13 pitchers — and the injury bug has bitten position players as well.
Prior to the rubber match of a three-game set against divisional rival San Diego Padres on Wednesday, Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts made a concerning announcement about one of them. But this wasn't just any position player.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 04: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on prior to facing the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 04, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 04: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on prior to facing the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 04, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
This was the current National League batting leader, eight-time All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman.
After Freeman failed to run out a ground ball that turned into a game-ending double play — which didn't really matter in the 11-1 Dodger loss, anyway — Roberts explained that Freeman had a new injury, to his quad muscle.
"He was not going to come out of the game, so for me, my deal with him is, if you're going to play today and stay in the game last night, then manage it," Roberts told reporters, according to Dodger Blue. "So let's not go crazy on the bases."
Freeman led the NL with a .347 batting average prior to Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants. He also leads in double with 21.
Roberts, who has skippered the Dodgers since 2015, went on to explain Freeman has "got the ankle thing and he's dealing with his quad."
Freeman underwent ankle surgery in the offseason to repair a severe sprain suffered in the last week of the 2024 regular season. He then reinjured the ankle in March when he reportedly slipped in the shower in his home.
Freeman was in the lineup on Wednesday despite the quad injury, recording one hit in four at-bats plus a walk and a run scored in the Los Angeles 5-2 victory. As of Thursday, the Dodgers had made no further announcement on Freeman's latest injury.
More MLB: Dodgers' Freddie Freeman Gets Injury Update After Early-Season Setback
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