Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman has dealt with bone spurs in his right elbow for weeks. After four days off, Freeman showed signs the elbow was still bothering him this weekend in New York, but the All-Star insists he's feeling well.
“I feel fine,” Freeman said prior to Sunday’s regular season finale. “Obviously it’s not what I want it to be, but it’s not affecting anything. I feel fine. I’m in there today. I have no reservations going forward. I told you guys if I felt good I’d play all three games and I feel good.”
Freeman was seen favoring the elbow throughout Saturday's loss. Manager Brian Snitker deferred to the player when asked after the game, but Freeman had already left Citi Field.
Since leaving a game in Washington early due to his elbow, Freeman has hit .100 (3 for 30) in his past 10 games, recording only one extra-base hit in that span. He stayed in Atlanta while the team played two games in Kansas City last week. Because the series was sandwiched between off days, Freeman had four days of rest and treatment.
Freeman was 1-for-8 in his past two games entering Sunday. The 30-year-old was in the lineup for the finale, staying true to his Friday statement that if he felt good he'd play in all three games of the series.
“I feel good enough to play,” Freeman said. “We’re only going to do two at-bats today though. We’ll do two at-bats then come out, let some of the other guys play. I have no problems going forward. I have no restrictions. And I’m going to be out there for a couple at-bats and be ready to roll Thursday.”
Freeman may have an offseason procedure to address the spurs, but he’s taking a wait-and-see approach until that moment arrives.
