World Series hero Freddie Freeman said this week that things are trending in the right direction for the Dodgers’ season opener in Japan. The world champions’ first baseman underwent offseason surgery on the injured ankle he sprained late last season.

Freeman played through injuries to his hand, rib and ankle last season and also persevered through a health scare and illness involving his son, but it culminated with an iconic moment in the

Freeman, 35, led the Dodgers to a World Series win last fall against the New York Yankees, hitting a walk-off grand slam in Game 1, and was crowned MVP of the series. The team will play their first spring training game of the season Thursday against the Cubs at the Dodgers’ spring training facility in Glendale, Arizona.

The Dodgers are scheduled to begin spring training play Thursday against the Chicago Cubs at their Camelback Ranch training facility in Glendale, Arizona, but without Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.

Since that World Series victory, Freeman has also spent the offseason recovering from ankle surgery after playing through that sprained ankle throughout the postseason. Freeman is currently limited as spring training gets going, but is looking to be ready to play in the Dodgers' season opener in Tokyo next month.

The Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed their entire roster to Spring Training on Saturday for the first full-squad workout at Camelback Ranch. Having such a star-studded team makes for headline material, and getting everyone back in the mix after a long season in 2024 includes a few players still on the mend.