ESPN Reports: Los Angeles Dodgers have just brought back a dominant MLB player from overseas for their bench in a blockbuster deal worth……Read more

Last but not least, Freddie Freeman can take a deep breath.

It was revealed that the first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers and World Series MVP was dealing with more than just a badly damaged ankle.Freeman reportedly fractured the costal cartilage in his sixth rib, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Thursday.

A season-ending injury that should have kept Freeman out for months wasn’t going to deter him from participating in the playoffs. Fred, his father, was concerned as he observed his son’s physical suffering.

“I truly requested that he cease,” Fred informed Passan. The point is not being made, I told Freddie. You must have a deep affection for baseball. For me, baseball is a tremendous sport. However, the pain you’re experiencing is not worth it. “Dad, I’m never going to stop,” he declared while staring at me as if I were insane.

Freeman not only kept playing despite the discomfort, but he also had one of the greatest playoff performances for the team.

Although he did not want to draw attention to his broken rib cartilage, Freeman began the first game of the Division Series against San Diego. Simply having him in the lineup was sufficient. Every time Freeman swung his small but powerful left-handed bat, San Diego had no clue how much anguish he was in. Every missed pitch drove a stinging, silent anguish down his side, and his right ankle felt like it may give out at any time.

“The only time it hurts is when I fail,” Freeman confided in his father. “So I’m just going to have to stop missing.”

With his core stabilized with kinesiology tape, Freeman hit two singles in the series opener. His limp diverted attention from his rib, which was actually hurting, by suggesting an ankle problem. Los Angeles won Game 1, but lost the following two to the Padres as his symptoms intensified following four agonizing at-bats.

According to Aaron Bates, the hitting coach for the Dodgers, “I would ask: ‘How’s your ankle?’ every day.” Feeling good? Is your finger okay? My brain isn’t working.

Without Freeman for a few of games, the Dodgers advanced to the National League Championship Series after winning the National League Division Series in five games. With him at the helm, his teammates cruised to a six-game series victory.

Freeman and the Dodgers’ staff found a mental cue on October 24th, right before the first game of the highly anticipated World Series, that would help him regain the power that had been lacking in his playoff swings. He was able to control his leaning forward by visualizing himself striding more toward first base. This little change helped Freeman stand taller, which improved his handling of fastballs, a pitch that had limited him to 2-for-13 in the National League Championship Series.

Prior to Freeman’s big slam in Game 1, the Yankees were in the dark about what he had unlocked. With 12 RBIs, he cemented his place in Dodgers lore and tied a record for most in a World Series.