Dodgers Rookie Gets Brutally Honest on First-Year Struggles

When the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that infielder Alex Freeland was making the Opening Day roster, the move came as somewhat of a surprise. After all, many people thought that Hyeseong Kim would take the spot, but Los Angeles insisted that Freeland earned it.

Freeland made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2025, but he didn't have a great debut in the big leagues. The infielder hit .190 with two home runs and six runs batted in, appearing in 29 games for Los Angeles.

So heading into the offseason, improving his craft was a crucial part of his plans. Back with the Dodgers now, Freeland opened up about his struggles in his first taste of the major leagues.

“I wasn’t a great baseball player last year,” Freeland told the California Post. “So I really took a step back, looked at myself and decided who I wanted to be and how I was gonna do it.”

One problem for Freeland last season was the speed of the big league game. The infielder wasn't able to navigate the changes from the minors, and it hurt him.

“I think at times, the game sped up on him,” manager Dave Roberts recently said.

The 24-year-old spent the entire winter training with Dodgers staff at the team’s Camelback Ranch facility in Arizona, which has led to his improvement. But Freeland also mentioned that his mentality has gotten better, and it's helped him be prepared for the moment.

“I don’t think anything got easier,” Freeland said. “I think just mentally, I feel more prepared.”

So far this season, Freeland has only been given eight at-bats, but his production at the plate has been noticeably better. Currently, Freeland is 2-for-8 with a home run and a walk.

All spring, Freeland heard the noise about him not deserving to make the roster, but he simply let his on-field performance do the talking. Freeland showed much better plate discipline, drawing more walks than strikeouts, even if his average of .125 wasn't that impressive.

“I talked all spring about his head and just kind of (how he was) staying confident,” Roberts said. “And I think he’s really confident. He’s in a good spot.”

Freeland now has a chance to stay up in the big leagues with the team that many are favoring to win the World Series. There is a lot of pressure on him to succeed, but he seems ready for the moment, eager to prove any doubters wrong.

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