The Los Angeles Dodgers had an injury scare on Tuesday when Freddie Freeman was removed from Team Canada’s lineup in the fourth inning with what was reported as a minor hamstring injury.
Team Canada manager Ernie Whitt confirmed the injury was a tight hamstring and added Freeman was removed as a precaution. Freeman then was out of Canada’s lineup on Wednesday in their 10-3 loss to Team Mexico.
Chase Field, where Canada played their World Baseball Classic games in Pool C, is less than 20 miles away from Camelback Ranch, so Freeman returned to Dodgers camp to be checked on by team trainers.
After undergoing testing and talking with the Dodgers medical staff, Freeman is confident he’ll be ready for Opening Day and could resume hitting soon, via Jesse Borek and Matthew Ritchie of MLB.com:
“No, Opening Day is not in doubt,” said Freeman. “Took a complete day off, just finished three hours of treatment. If everything goes well, I am shooting for games this weekend at the Cactus League.”
Canada had slim odds to advance in the WBC, which means Freeman likely would have returned to Dodgers camp one day later if he had not suffered the hamstring injury. Freeman finished his time in the tournament hitting .200 with a .473 on-base plus slugging percentage and one RBI.
Freeman played in the WBC for the second time in his career. Canada was winless during his last time participating, but finished 2-2 this time around.
Although Freeman was born in the United States, he feels a close bond to Canada and plays for the country as a way of honoring his late mother, Rosemary Joy Freeman, who was born in Toronto and passed away because of melanoma in 2000.
“Most people just know about my mom, but my dad is Canadian too,” Freeman explained. “He was born in Windsor, Ontario; my mom was born in Toronto, and she passed when I was 10. So I play for Team Canada to honor her and her memory.”
Which Dodgers are still participating in the World Baseball Classic?
With the Pool round of the World Baseball Classic now complete, 12 teams were eliminated while eight advanced to the quarterfinals.
Among the teams with a Dodgers player to advance are USA, Mexico and Venezeula, which means Mookie Betts, Will Smith, Austin Barnes, Julio Urías and David Peralta will continue representing their respective countries.
With Canada and Great Britain being eliminated, Freddie Freeman and Trayce Thompson are returning to Dodgers camp.
Among the Dodgers Minor Leaguers participating, Jose Ramos returned to camp after Team Panama was eliminated, and Adam Kolarek is returning after Team Israel finished fourth in their pool.
Liam Doolan is also returning to camp after Australia was defeated by Cuba in their quarterfinal matchup.
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