Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman reveals personal situation kept him from playing in WBC

Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman will miss the 2026 World Baseball Classic and elaborated on the personal reason why he won’t be at the tournament.

Freeman also said Team Canada – for whom he has played in both of the last two WBC tournaments – supported his decision to withdraw from the tournament. The veteran’s parents are both from Ontario, Canada, so he is eligible to represent the team due to his dual citizenship.

“I couldn’t go there and play and be in Puerto Rico (for the group stage games) and be so far away from my family,” Freeman said. “I had to be close to California.”

Freddie Freeman said he is not playing in the WBC due to a personal situation. He said Team Canada was supportive

“I couldn’t go there and play and be in Puerto Rico (for the group stage matches) and be so far from my family. I had to be close…

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) January 31, 2026

Freeman was born in the Los Angeles area and spent his adolescence in Orange County. Team Canada is in Pool A of the WBC and will play all of their group stage matches in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

How did Freddie Freeman perform in his previous WBC appearances?

Freeman’s first WBC appearance came with Team Canada in 2017, playing three matches during the tournament. He had two hits in 11 at-bats for an even .182/.182/.182 slash line.

The All-Star returned in 2023, although he also struggled with his return to the world stage. He hit .200 with three runs and posted a .473 OPS. He suffered a hamstring injury in a game against Team Columbia, but managed to return to the team before the start of the regular season.

Team Canada did not advance beyond the group stage in either tournament.

Will Freddie Freeman be available for the Dodgers at the start of the season?

Although Freeman has publicly announced that he will not compete in the WBC, he has had no idea that he will not be ready to go at the start of the regular season.

Freeman has historically been reliable during the regular season, playing at least 100 games in each of the past fifteen seasons with the exception of 2020.

The first baseman is a key player for the Dodgers and has been fantastic since arriving ahead of the 2022 season. During his four-year tenure in LA, he has belted 96 home runs and 381 RBIs while boasting a .907 OPS through 614 games.

The Dodgers hope he can come back as strong as ever during the regular season as they hunt for another World Series title.