Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman will be ready when Opening Day rolls around, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. Manager Dave Roberts announced the update on the two-time World Series Champion and perennial All-Star. The Los Angeles skipper elaborated further, saying “it didn’t seem feasible” a few months ago.

Freddie Freeman Expected to Be Ready by Opening Day

A Miraculous Recovery?

Freeman had surgery in November to repair a severely sprained ankle that he injured in the last division-clinching regular season series against the hard-charging San Diego Padres. As a result, Freeman missed several games in the postseason leading up to the World Series. The grizzled veteran, who dealt with multiple injuries and a family emergency last year, had to undergo hours of treatment in order to be ready to play in the World Series. He made the most of it, hitting the first-ever walk-off  grand slam in Series history and earning the Most Valuable Player Award as well.

Under the Knife

The surgery last year was more extensive than first thought. It included repairing torn ligaments and cleaning “foreign bodies” out of the All-Star’s ankle. He was originally projected to miss all of spring training but tentatively be ready for Opening Day on March 18. Those estimates were apparently too conservative.

Not Quite Good As New…Yet

Freeman saw his first spring training action as a designated hitter, 12 weeks out from the surgery. He was supposed to have two at-bats. He talked Roberts into three. He singled his first time up at the plate. He expects to have treatment every day, including taping the ankle, until the All-Star Break. “I wish it felt like my left one, but it doesn’t,” Freeman said. The plan going forward is for the first baseman to play defensively on Sunday to see how the ankle responds. Dodgers fans can only hope that their World Series hero can stay healthy through spring training and beyond.