The Los Angeles Dodgers secured their second baseball championship in five years, with Freddie Freeman’s prolific performance securing him the World Series MVP award. Freeman homered in the first four games, breaking records and tying the Fall Classic mark for 12 RBIs. Referring to his achievement, he said he was able to get hot at the right time, noting the number of his teammates on base.
Freeman continued to dominate in Game 5 by delivering a critical two-run single off Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, culminating in a Dodgers’ victory. He also matched Bobby Richardson’s 1960 record of driving 12 RBIs in a championship. His record-setting started off with a grand slam that ended the opening game, a first in the World Series history.
Apart from his World Series exploits, Freeman also set a record as the only player to score home runs in six consecutive series games. This dates back to the 2021 title he won with Atlanta. However, Game 5 saw his drive halted by Aaron Judge, who performed an extraordinary catch that denied Freeman an extra-base hit.
This MVP award caps a challenging season for the Freeman family, given that Freeman missed eight games due to his son getting sick. Max Freeman suffered from Guillain-Barré, causing paralysis and breathing difficulty—an incident that hospitalised him while Freddie was away at the All-Star game in Texas. Freeman returned to the Dodgers on August 5 to a warm ovation.
Despite these setbacks, Freeman finished the season with a .282 batting average, 22 homers, and 89 RBIs. This goes on top of his eight All-Star selections and the 2020 NL MVP award with Atlanta. His importance to the Dodgers is evident in that he is a .300 career hitter with 343 homers, 1,232 RBIs, and an .899 OPS in his 15-season major league career.
Heading into the World Series, Freeman encountered further tests as a right ankle sprain saw him miss the Dodgers’ last three regular-season games. But the break before the World Series allowed his ankle to heal, culminating in an extraordinary performance at the plate. The championship win ensures Freeman earns his second World Series ring and a deserved MVP award.
