Freddie Freeman selected membership over nation Tuesday, the Dodgers first baseman pulling himself from Crew Canada’s World Baseball Traditional sport towards Colombia due to a light proper hamstring damage somewhat than taking part in by way of the ache, a choice that wasn’t as straightforward because it might need appeared.
“It was actually robust,” Freeman mentioned Wednesday after receiving three hours of therapy at Camelback Ranch. “I apologized to [Canada coach] Greg Hamilton. I really feel like I allow them to down. He clearly reassured me that I didn’t, however that’s simply the way in which I really feel.”
Freeman, 33, selected to play for Canada, as he did within the 2017 WBC, to honor his late mom, Rosemary, who died of pores and skin most cancers when Freeman was 10. She was born and raised in Canada; he was raised in Southern California and starred at Orange El Modena Excessive.
Canada didn’t win a sport within the 2017 match however went 2-2 this 12 months, together with a 5-0 win over Colombia. Canada was eradicated with Wednesday’s 10-3 loss to Mexico.
“Watching on TV if you’ve invested as a lot as you will have within the final week, it’s positively robust to observe,” Freeman mentioned. “It was an exquisite week. Canada, we placed on an excellent present, loads higher than 2017. To not see it all over is difficult. So there’s just a little little bit of a foul style in my mouth having to depart the WBC.”
The Dodgers had been grateful that Freeman pulled himself out of Tuesday’s sport, Supervisor Dave Roberts calling it “a really accountable choice.”
Freeman mentioned he felt “just a little tightness” however not “a seize” on a swing within the third inning. He slowly ran out of the field, clearly in discomfort. He performed the following half-inning within the discipline however was changed within the fourth.
“I believed it was a cramp, however clearly it didn’t go away,” Freeman mentioned. “It doesn’t matter what sport I’m in, I’m going to play it to the toughest of my capabilities, however with opening day 15, 16 days away, I used to be just a little nervous having to go first to 3rd or first to house, so finally I needed to make that robust choice to come back out.”
Each Freeman and Roberts mentioned the damage will by no means influence Freeman’s standing for opening day. Freeman, actually, mentioned he expects to return to Cactus League motion by this weekend.
Canada’s Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates with teammates after scoring towards Britain in a World Baseball Traditional sport in Phoenix on Sunday.
(Godofredo A. Vásquez / Related Press)
“Opening day will not be doubtful,” Freeman mentioned. “I really feel fantastic. Just a bit tight proper in the course of my hamstring. I really feel significantly better in the present day.”
Freeman, the 2020 Nationwide League most beneficial participant, has missed simply 10 video games for the reason that begin of 2018. He appeared in 159 video games final 12 months, his first season with the Dodgers after signing a six-year, $162-million deal, and hit .325 with a .918 on-base-plus-slugging share, 21 homers, 100 RBIs and a league-leading 199 hits, 117 runs and 47 doubles.
The Dodgers are relying on Freeman to gasoline a lineup that misplaced shortstop Trea Turner and third baseman Justin Turner to free company and Gavin Lux to a season-ending knee damage, they usually cannot afford to lose the left-handed-hitting slugger for an prolonged time period.
The chance of damage is the largest concern for main leaguers who take part within the WBC — seven Dodgers gamers, together with ace Julio Urías, proper fielder Mookie Betts and catchers Will Smith and Austin Barnes, have performed on this 12 months’s occasion — however the Dodgers appeared to have dodged a bullet with Freeman.
“I hoped the damage was extra gentle, and I feel that is the best-case situation,” Roberts mentioned. “When you will have a state of affairs the place we don’t have our eyes on guys, you at all times form of have just a little little bit of nervousness, just a little concern of damage, and hopefully that is the worst of it.”
Instances workers author Jorge Castillo contributed to this story.
