A series of unexpected events last year resulted in the Los Angeles Dodgers signing Freddie Freeman to a six-year, $162 million contract.
Freeman was coming off a World Series title with the Atlanta Braves and had cemented himself both in the clubhouse and community. However, the Braves reportedly weren’t willing to include a sixth year on their contract offer to re-sign Freeman, and wound up pivoting to complete a trade with the Oakland Athletics for Matt Olson.
It wound up being the final push that sent Freeman to the Dodgers, and although he expressed excitement to be back in Southern California, the change came with plenty of emotion.
Freeman was immediately welcomed by Dodgers fans but needed months to find closure from his time with the Braves. All the while he remained a productive hitter for L.A. and further found his footing at the plate once a Dodgers lineup order of Mookie Betts, Trea Turner and Freeman was settled on.
The six-time All-Star went on to lead MLB with 199 hits and batted .325/.407/.511 with 47 doubles, 21 home runs, 100 RBI, 117 runs scored and 13 stolen bases in 159 games.
Freeman tied with Betts for the NL lead in runs scored, nearly reached 200 hits on the final day of the regular season and fell just shy of edging New York Mets’ Jeff McNeil for the NL batting title.
He nonetheless was named to the All-MLB Second Team, though inexplicably did not finish a top-three finalist for NL MVP. Freeman has earned an All-MLB selection in each of the four seasons since the honor was introduced following the 2019 campaign.
Freeman didn’t take his first game off until the night after the Dodgers clinched the National League West title. The 33-year-old attempted to lobby his way into still starting, but manager Dave Roberts held Freeman to their long-held agreement.
Freddie Freeman 2022 highlight
Playing his first home game as a member of the Dodgers, Freeman hit a ground-rule double in the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds on April 14 and was treated to a standing ovation along with fans chanting his name.
“It’s as special as it gets. You have those feelings coming out on the line, the intros, but usually once the game starts those feelings go away,” Freeman said after the Dodgers’ 9-3 win.
“The fans to be able to create a moment for me in the eighth inning is something I’ll never forget. It was a special night for me and the family.”
2023 outlook
With Freeman admittedly feeling more settled in, he again figures to have a hand in how successful the Dodgers are. Freeman’s production could be all the more imperative with the roster turnover the team has experienced this offseason.
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