After a 35-year wait, last season, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally reclaimed their World Series title in storybook fashion—once again toppling the Yankees. With an all-star lineup, the Dodgers looked unstoppable.

Well, until injuries derailed their lineup. By midseason, the Dodgers’ roster resembled more of a makeshift hospital than a championship contender.

Clayton Kershaw, their trusted ace, lasted just seven starts before a bone spur in his toe ended his season. Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May were out early. Tyler Glasnow, their midseason hope, was lost by August with elbow tendinitis.

And when things couldn’t get worse, injuries spread beyond the mound. Mookie Betts fractured his wrist. Third baseman, Max Muncy was out for months. Freddie Freeman, known for his resilience, played through an ankle sprain and broken rib cartilage. Even Ohtani, the team’s biggest star, suffered a partially dislocated shoulder during the WS.

The Dodgers weren’t just battling opponents—they were fighting their own bodies.

“We all wanted to win,” Muncy admitted the team never lost hope. Manager Dave Roberts called it a battle of attrition, praising the team’s resilience to find a way to get through it.

Reliever Alex Vesia embodied that spirit. After injuring his intercostal muscle in the NLDS, he should’ve been shut down for weeks. Instead, he rehabbed aggressively and returned for the Series, delivering four scoreless appearances, including a Game 2 save. “We had a small window, but we made a plan, stuck to it, and that’s why it worked,” Vesia mentioned.

Despite the endless hurdles, the Dodgers came through. Their battered rotation held on. And when it mattered most, there was MVP Freeman—limping but fearless—smashing a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the World Series.

Dodgers are ready for another title run

The Dodgers’ journey to the 2024 World Series title was nothing short of extraordinary. But now that the champagne has dried, a new challenge awaits them—defending their crown in 2025. Wasting no time, the team has quickly zeroed into fine-tuning its lineup in preparation for another championship run.

In 2024, the Dodgers lost an unbelievable 2,158 combined days to injuries, setting an unwanted record for any World Series champion in the past decade. Determined to avoid a repeat, they have further strengthened their starting rotation by signing left-hander Blake Snell, Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki and All-Star reliever Tanner Scott. These additions further solidify the bullpen, readying it to take on the long grind of another season.

After undergoing surgeries in the offseason, both Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani are preparing for another incredible year. Their strong performances in spring training have eased any lingering injury concerns. They know that legacies aren’t built on comfort—they’re built on sacrifice. If they could perform at an elite level while injured, just imagine what they’ll accomplish at full strength.

Adding to the team’s confidence is Teoscar Hernández’s first homer that gave LA a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 6th.

The Dodgers understand they won’t have the luxury of sneaking up on anyone this season. “Teams are going to be out to get us, especially because of what our front office and ownership did in the offseason,” said Max Muncy, who has won two World Series and played in three with the Dodgers.

“There’s going to be a target on our back, and we have to show up day in, day out, improve every single day in any way that we can.”

Now, as the Dodgers prepare to raise their World Series ring, their message is clear: last season’s victory was just the beginning. The Dodgers aren’t just looking to defend their title—they’re setting the stage for long-term dominance.