The Los Angeles Dodgers World Series victory last October marked a triumphant return to the pinnacle of baseball. After a grueling 35-year wait for a full-season championship, the team finally conquered their postseason demons and took down the New York Yankees in a Fall Classic that had the city buzzing with pride. But as we look back on this momentous achievement, one crucial element of the story was hidden beneath the surface: the physical toll the Dodgers endured on their journey to greatness.
Los Angeles Dodgers 2025 Tokyo Series #17 OTANI Baseball Jersey
“A Lot of Sacrifices” Behind the Los Angeles Dodgers Unlikely Road to Victory
When you think of a championship-winning team, you envision players celebrating, lifting the trophy, and basking in the glory of victory. What is often overlooked, however, are the unseen battles players fight off the field. As third baseman Max Muncy revealed, the Dodgers were a team of warriors, each playing through their own injuries and limitations.
“We all wanted to win,” Muncy said. “But we were all going through something.” And that something was the constant battle with injuries that affected nearly every member of the roster.
The Hidden Injuries That Almost Stopped the Dodgers
From the very start of the 2024 season, injuries were a central theme for the Dodgers. The pitching staff was plagued with absences, leaving the team shorthanded just as the postseason loomed large. Key players, including Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani, were visibly playing through significant injuries, with Freeman battling a sprained ankle and broken rib cartilage, and Ohtani fighting through a torn labrum.
Yet, behind closed doors, the Dodgers’ October injury problems were even more severe than what was known at the time. Max Muncy, Will Smith, Gavin Lux, and even bullpen hero Michael Kopech were all dealing with physical issues that limited their performance. Kopech, for example, struggled with forearm inflammation that left him feeling “in the 60% range” health-wise.
“It was a lot more effort to throw that hard,” Kopech admitted. “But I was determined to figure it out.” Despite the challenges, Kopech recorded some of the most pivotal outs of the postseason, his 100-mph fastballs masking the intense physical pain he was enduring.
Manager Dave Roberts Reflects on the Dodgers’ Resilience
Manager Dave Roberts was not surprised by the Dodgers’ ability to persevere through their physical challenges. “Baseball is a battle of attrition,” Roberts noted. “You lose players, and guys are playing banged up. But I’m not surprised they found a way to get through it.”
Indeed, it was a testament to the Dodgers’ resilience that they pushed through injury after injury to win the World Series. Every player on the roster, from the starting lineup to the bullpen, showed up when it mattered most, playing through pain and putting the team first.
Michael Kopech’s Heroic Effort Despite Forearm Injury
One of the most surprising revelations came from Michael Kopech, a midseason acquisition who played a key role in the Dodgers’ playoff run. Despite battling significant forearm pain, Kopech made 10 postseason appearances, more than any other player on the team. His performance was impressive, and his determination to fight through his injury became one of the unsung stories of the Dodgers’ World Series victory.
Despite the forearm inflammation that affected his pitching, Kopech managed to maintain his velocity and help the Dodgers secure critical victories. It was clear that he wasn’t operating at full strength, but his gritty determination showed that the Dodgers were a team of fighters, not just athletes.
Will Smith Plays Through Ankle Injury to Help Los Angeles Dodgers Secure the Title
Behind the plate, Will Smith faced his own battle with injury. Smith, who had been dealing with a deep bone bruise on his left ankle since June, was never fully healthy throughout the postseason. Even after his injury lingered into the 2025 Spring Training, Smith pushed through and played in Cactus League games despite continued discomfort.
“It’s just one of those things that it is what it is,” Smith said, acknowledging the challenges of playing with an injury that wouldn’t go away. Yet, Smith’s leadership on the field, even when less than 100%, played a crucial role in the Dodgers’ success.
Dodgers’ Future: Can They Overcome the Lingering Injury Concerns?
As the 2025 season progresses, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to deal with lingering injury issues, particularly with players like Smith and Kopech. The road to recovery for these players will be long, but their sacrifices during the 2024 World Series run will forever be etched in the team’s legacy.
And while the Dodgers celebrate their championship victory, they know that the true victory was not just the title itself, but the resilience and heart they showed while playing through injuries. Their story is a reminder that in baseball, and in life, success is often built on sacrifice, grit, and the determination to overcome obstacles—no matter how painful they may be.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series win wasn’t just a victory on the scoreboard—it was a victory over adversity, with each player enduring pain and uncertainty to secure the ultimate prize. As the team looks to the future, their story serves as a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit, both on and off the field. For fans, it’s a reminder that behind every championship team is a story of resilience and sacrifice.