Freddie Freeman’s World Series MVP performance turned out to be even more extraordinary than we originally thought.
While we all knew Shohei Ohtani was playing through a subluxation in his left shoulder, showing his commitment to his team in his first postseason and World Series appearance, what Freeman achieved while battling through pain and continuing to deliver clutch hits for the Dodgers offense is truly remarkable.
This is what makes sports so special. We see athletes as stars on the field, but we often don’t know what they’re enduring behind the scenes. Freeman had been dealing with an ankle injury since twisting it while running to first base at the end of the regular season. Yet, he never once revealed any additional injuries throughout the postseason. He simply played, gave his all, and did everything possible to help the Dodgers win.
If Freeman wasn’t already well-liked, this performance only added to his appeal. It’s unbelievable to see someone push through physical pain, even with a championship on the line. The focus was supposed to be on Ohtani, who came to Los Angeles specifically for meaningful postseason games and the chance to win a title. He was the centerpiece of the story.
However, Freeman swiftly reminded everyone just how exceptional he is in these high-pressure moments. It was Freeman who led the Braves to a championship in 2021, and it was Freeman who was a key reason the Dodgers are champions again.
And he did all of this while not at full health. This makes his MVP performance even more impressive than we initially realized.