Just one day after a tense moment at Dodger Stadium, Freddie Freeman was back in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting lineup Monday night, batting fourth and playing first base against the Minnesota Twins. It was a reassuring sight for a team that, despite leading the National League West, has been anything but comfortable since the All-Star break.
A Scare With Familiar History
Freeman exited Sunday’s 6–5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth inning after an 88 mph sinker from Jose Quintana rode inside and struck him on the left wrist. The moment he began walking toward the dugout—without even consulting the umpire—fans and teammates alike held their breath.
“I held my breath. I think we all did,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said postgame. “When you’re scuffling, and to potentially lose a guy for four to six weeks is obviously very scary. But exhale, sigh of relief after hearing that it was negative.”
X-rays revealed no fracture, with the team diagnosing Freeman with a left wrist contusion. The Dodgers listed him as day to day, but the veteran didn’t miss a game.
“He just doesn’t come out of games,” Roberts noted. “So I didn’t know why he was walking toward me. Then hearing him say that it was his wrist and he can’t continue—yeah, really worried. Typically, it’s the other way around.”
The concern was magnified by Freeman’s past. In 2017, he missed significant time after breaking the same wrist while playing for Atlanta.
If Freeman is sidelined for even a few games, the Dodgers will turn to an unexpected source: 23-year-old Dalton Rushing.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the plan after the game: “If Freddie Freeman can’t go tomorrow, Dalton Rushing will be at first base.”
Rushing, primarily known as a catching prospect, has impressed within the organization for his bat and work ethic. Though he lacks first base experience at the major league level, his readiness to adapt—paired with the club’s trust—speaks volumes. It also reflects the Dodgers’ confidence in their developmental pipeline.
A Team in Need of a Spark
Freeman, 34, is slashing .292/.365/.471 with 10 home runs, 49 RBI, and an NL-leading 26 doubles through 367 plate appearances. But he’s been in a pronounced slump since June 1, hitting just .199 with one home run and a .554 OPS over his last 40 games. His average has dropped 82 points in that span.
The Dodgers, too, are showing signs of wear. After being swept by Milwaukee—both out of the All-Star break and in the season series—they sit at 58–42. Still first in the West, but far from the dominant force many expected after a blockbuster offseason.
Bullet Dodged, But Work Remains
Given the injuries to their pitching staff and the heavy reliance on offensive production to stay afloat, losing Freeman for any length of time could have had real consequences. That he avoided serious injury is a break the Dodgers desperately needed.
Now, with their All-Star first baseman back in the fold, the challenge shifts to getting him—and the lineup—back in rhythm.