Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was an unexpected addition to the lineup for Game 1 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres after spraining his ankle in late September, which created pessimism from the Dodgers that he would be able to play. His prospects for seeing playing time are complicated further since Shohei Ohtani, recovering from UCL surgery, occupies the designated hitter role for the Dodgers full-time.
Nevertheless, Freeman started Game 1 and had a productive 2-for-5 outing. He admitted after the game that he would be a true day-to-day for the foreseeable future, but for someone seemingly hobbled, he did well. Perhaps most surprising, Freeman stole a base on the sprained ankle.
Given the risk of being thrown out or worse, injured further, it might seem ill-advised to even attempt such a move given the ailment, which the Padres are surely aware of, but Freeman had a noble reason for doing so that he explained in a postgame interview with Ken Rosenthal:
"I felt good enough. If I can't play the game the right way then I shouldn't be out there, and I needed to go in that situation if they are going to try to give me 90 feet. I think I got lucky."
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Freddie Freeman talks with @Ken_Rosenthal about his sprained ankle and why he chose… pic.twitter.com/b4t5QaY55K
"If I can't play the game the right way then I shouldn't be out there," Freeman said, matter of factly. He let out a hearty laugh when asked about the stolen base, as if to say he, himself, was surprised he was able to do it. "I think I got lucky," he said.
It might be trickier to steal a bag the rest of the series for Freeman, who will probably be kept more honest after he showed he's willing to run, hurt ankle or not.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Freddie Freeman Defends Decision to Steal Base on Sprained Ankle.
