Dodgers' Freddie Freeman Played 2024 MLB Playoffs with Serious Rib Cartilage Injury

Freddie Freeman battled through a lingering ankle injury to help the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series against the New York Yankees, but that wasn't the only injury he was dealing with as he won World Series MVP.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Freeman found out two days before the postseason began that he had broken the costal cartilage in his sixth rib. According to Passan, the injury was so bad that Freeman was "unable to even pick himself off the floor" after taking some swings in the batting cage.

Passan also noted that the injury Freeman had usually "sidelines players for months."

Despite the two injuries, Freeman missed just three games in the postseason and played all five games of the World Series, putting on one of the best performances in Dodgers history.

He homered in the first four games of the World Series, his first one being arguably the most consequential hit of the postseason for Los Angeles. As the Dodgers trailed 3-2 in the bottom of the 10th inning in Game 1, Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam to put Los Angeles up 1-0 in the series.

His home run in Game 4 set a record for consecutive World Series games with a home run with six dating back to the 2021 World Series when he was with the Atlanta Braves.

Freeman ended the series with four home runs, a World Series-record-tying 12 RBI and a .300 batting average, making himself the clear choice for MVP.

There were questions about whether Freeman would be able to perform while not at 100 percent, but he made those questions an afterthought with his outstanding performance. Now the 2020 National League MVP and 2021 World Series champion has another title and his first World Series MVP.