Dodgers' Freddie Freeman exits WBC game with tight hamstring

Los Angeles Dodgersfirst baseman Freddie Freeman suffered a minor hamstring injury Tuesday while playing for Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

Freeman left the game against Colombia in the fourth inning after feeling tightness in his hamstring during an at-bat in the previous inning. Canada manager Ernie Witt said Freeman, who was not in the lineup Wednesday against Mexico, is out of the WBC for now.

"He's out of this tournament for now," Witt told reporters, according to the Los Angeles Times. "The Dodgers decided that. He's over in camp right now getting looked at by the doctors and training staff."

Canada (2-1) will clinch a spot in the WBC quarterfinals with a victory Wednesday over Mexico (2-1).

It was not certain as of Wednesday afternoon whether the injury could jeopardize Freeman's availability for Opening Day on March 30, when the Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Freeman, 33, has been one of baseball's most durable players throughout his 13-year career in the majors and has played in 698 out of a possible 708 regular-season games over the past five years -- including the COVID-shortened 2020 season. The six-time All-Star last spent time on the injured list during the 2017 season.

Freeman batted .325 with 21 home runs and 100 RBIs last season, his first of a six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.