When the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired David Freese from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Aug. 31 trade deadline last year, it was with an eye on improving the offense’s woes against left-handed pitching.
He not only thrived in that capacity, but lived up to his reputation of being a clutch postseason performer, hitting an overall .364/.423/.773 across 14 games. In addition to his success at the plate, Freese was lauded for his impact on some of the Dodgers’ younger players.
It led to both sides working out a new one-year contract for the 2019 season. Freese immediately picked up where he left off from the previous year, posting an .842 on-base plus slugging in 24 games between March and April.
He finished the first half with a superb .308/.407/.592 batting line, 18 extra-base hits and 23 RBI over 140 plate appearances. Minor knee and hamstring injuries limited Freese to just 23 games during the second half, but he nevertheless made the most of his opportunities, batting .333/.391/.619 down the stretch.
The 36-year-old concluded his 2019 campaign with a .315/.403/.599 batting line, 13 doubles, 11 home runs and 29 RBI over 186 trips to the plate. Freese went on to collect four hits in eight plate appearances against the Washington Nationals in the National League Division Series, once again proving he rises to the occasion in October.
2019 highlight
Freese played a big role in the Dodgers’ comeback victory over the Nationals in Game 3 of the NLDS. Stepping up to the plate for the first time in the sixth inning, his opposite-field single kickstarted a rally in which L.A. would take their first lead of the contest.
Freese finished his night with a three-hit performance, later adding a double and another single for good measure.
2020 outlook
Shortly after the Dodgers were eliminated by the Nationals in the NLDS, Freese announced his retirement on social media. In parts of two seasons with the Dodgers, he hit an outstanding .328/.421/.607 with 15 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs and 38 RBI over 98 games.
In 11 overall seasons between the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels, Pirates and Dodgers, Freese batted .277/.351/.423 with 197 doubles, seven triples, 113 home runs and 535 RBI across 4,229 plate appearances (1,184 games).
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