Cody Snavely
GLENDALE, AZ — 2024 World Series Most Valuable Player Award winner Freddie Freeman made his highly anticipated return to the Dodgers lineup yesterday, batting second as the designated hitter.
Freeman, 35, has been taking it “slow” so far this spring as he rehabs from offseason ankle surgery after playing on a sprained ankle in the Dodgers’ championship run. Despite the surgery and starting his work later than usual, Freeman reiterated that his goal is to play as many games as possible and will be ready for Opening Day in Tokyo, Japan, on March 18th.
In his debut, Freeman went 1-for-3 with a single in his first at-bat. The following steps for Freeman will be to return to the Dodgers lineup on Sunday, this time at first base, with the Dodgers having a scheduled off day on Monday.
However, one massive storyline to watch for the first half of the regular season with Freddie Freeman is how the training staff must monitor his ankle.
“I do think I’m going to be getting a lot of treatment and taping for at least until the All-Star break,” Freeman said. “It’s just hard, because you’re on your feet all day log. Lower-body injuries are hard to rehab, especially the ankle. I do believe it’s going to be a lot longer treatment-wise than I would like.”
Last October, Freeman had to go through leaps and bounds to make a start for the postseason, including tape around his ankle like a football player. While the injury is behind him, Roberts will do his best to ensure that the future Hall of Fame first baseman stays healthy. Possibly a rotation of him with other first base options such as Miguel Rojas and Kiké Hernández.
Lost in the excitement of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ second Cactus League win of the 2025 season on Wednesday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that young right-handed pitcher Michael Grove was behind schedule in his throwing progression and is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day.
What has sidelined Grove this winter is a nagging shoulder injury that the righty suffered at the end of last season. Still, Grove pitched through it, including an appearance in the National League Division Series, but left off the team the rest of October.
Grove is the latest relief pitcher to likely hit the injured list to begin the regular season, joining Evan Phillips, who is recovering from a tear in his rotator cuff, and Michael Kopech, who Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported weeks ago was dealing with forearm inflammation.
With the injuries, expect pitchers such as Ben Casparius, Justin Wrobleski, and even Bobby Miller, Tony Gonsolin, and Dustin May to get some work in the bullpen.
Staying in the pitching department, the next check box for rookie right-handed pitcher Roki Saski is when the 23-year-old Japanese phenom will make his highly anticipated Cactus League debut.
This past Tuesday, Sasaki faced live hitters in a three-inning simulated game against minor leaguers from the Chicago White Sox. In the outing, Sasaki threw thirty-eight pitches, allowing two hits, a home run to White Sox top prospect Kyle Teel, and a double.
However, Sasaki rebounded after the solo shot, ending the first inning with a punch out on his signature splitter and getting three straight ground balls after that.
According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Sasaki hovered in the mid-90s in velocity, which is where the organization expected him to be as he builds up for the 2025 season.
Regarding when we should see Sasaki again, Roberts suggested that either Tuesday or Wednesday would likely be a Cactus League game. “Yeah, it’s very important. He needs to certainly build up. But also be in this environment,” Roberts said when asked about the importance of Sasaki pitching in a Cactus League game before the team departs for Japan.
As it is the last day of February, the Dodgers have less than three weeks to prepare for the start of the 2025 regular season in Tokyo, Japan, for their two-game series against the Chicago Cubs.
While plans could change, Roberts stated that Sasaki would pitch while the team was in Japan, but whether that’s an exhibition game or one of the two regular season games remains unknown.
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