Freddie Freeman is Having a Career Year

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman has won an MVP award, been named an All-MLB Team selection four times, represented his team in the All-Star Game seven times (including this season), won three Silver Slugger awards, and earned a Gold Glove in his 14-year career. This season might be his best.

Freeman has played in each of the Dodgers’ 115 games this season. If he were to continue his current pace, he would notch career-highs in hits, doubles, stolen bases (with everyone else), and OPS+. This season, Freeman is second in the MLB in batting average (.344) and hits (158) behind Marlins’ Luis Arraez, who is batting .365 and has 159 hits. In 2022, Freeman led the MLB with 47 doubles in 159 games. Freeman is once again pacing the MLB this year in doubles with 43, but in a more efficient 115 games.

In August, Freeman is batting an absurd .489/.529/.800 through 12 games; the Dodgers won 11 of those games. During this hot streak, Freeman has tallied more extra-base hits (10) than strikeouts (5) in 45 at-bats. 

Freeman’s campaign is more than deserving of the NL MVP award, but Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr and his teammate Matt Olson are making it a tight race. Acuna’s stats are nearly identical to those of Freeman, but the Braves star has compiled an MLB-best 56 stolen bases to Freeman’s 16. Olson, who was acquired as Freeman’s “replacement” in Atlanta when he signed with Los Angeles in 2022, leads the MLB with 42 home runs and 105 RBI’s (16 more than second place).

There are plenty of games to be played, but Freeman is on an incredible pace in the midst of a career year. The Dodgers made a significant investment when they signed Freeman for six years and $162 million, but the team is certainly getting their money’s-worth from their hometown superstar.