by Megan Garcia
The difference a year makes is quite noticeable when it comes to Freddie Freeman.
It’s so obvious that Dodger manager Dave Roberts lets out a laugh when remembering the stressful times of the first baseman’s ailments during the 2024 postseason. He no longer winces at the thought of Freeman running on the base paths.
“Well, he’s not hobbled, which is a good thing.” Roberts said of Freeman in the 2025 postseason.
Yet a hobbled Freeman did create an iconic moment in the 2024 World Series with a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 against the Yankees. And he hit three more home runs after that in the series and was the World Series MVP.
This time, Freeman isn’t nursing a sprained right ankle or broken rib cartilage. A year later, he’s healthy.
Surface numbers-wise, he comes into the 2025 World Series similar to where he came into the 2024 World Series.
Last year it was 7-for-32.
This year it’s 9-for-39.
“He’s seen some really good pitching and teams are pitching him very carefully,” said manager Dave Roberts. “He’s coming around. I still think his at-bats are competitive, (but) he’s certainly not pleased with the performance up to this point.
But like last year, there’s a sense that Freeman is ready for the next gear.
“Every time he gets in the box, I feel good,” said manager Dave Roberts. “I expect him to have a nice series.”
Freeman hit two doubles and a home run in the NLCS against the Brewers.
He’s found ways to get on base this postseason, as his walk rate has gone up to 11.1% from 5.5% last season. The walks have extended innings and later turned into runs to put the Dodgers ahead. He’s still the same intimidating presence in the lineup behind Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts.
The Dodgers, as a collective, haven’t flashed their slug from the regular season. But they’ve found ways to manufacture runs to eventually reach the World Series.
The Dodgers are hitting .256/.340/.430/.770 through 10 postseason games. They’ve scored 46 runs.
It underscores the difficulty of scoring of the postseason.
The 2025 Dodgers have gone up against some of the game’s best arms in Hunter Greene (Reds), Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo — twice (Phillies), Brewers ace Freddy Peralta and flame-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski.
Sánchez and Peralta finished three and four in ERA in the National League. Greene had a 2.76 ERA. Luzardo, Sánchez and Peralta each struck out more than 200 batters this season.
“I think you see in the postseason all the time, pretty much every year, it’s usually the walk, a bloop and then someone blasts a three on home run,” Freeman said. “It’s very hard to go against the number one and number two (starters).”
If anyone can solve the puzzle, there’s a lot of confidence that Freeman can help lead the way.
Freeman has appeared in 11 World Series games. He has a hit in each. He has homers in six.
2025 World Series: Last year’s MVP, Freddie Freeman, looks to be an offensive igniter was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.