Freddie Freeman was not named among the finalists for the 2022 National League Most Valuable Player Award. The three players instead are by St. Louis Cardinals teammates Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt, along with San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado.
Freeman appeared to be in prime position to become the first Dodgers player to finish in the top three of MVP voting since Mookie Betts placed second to him while he was with the Atlanta Braves during the 2020 season. Trea Turner finished fifth in voting last season after being acquired by the Dodgers prior to the trade deadline.
In Freeman’s first season with the Dodgers, the 33-year-old played in 159 games while batting .325/.407/.511 with 21 home runs, 100 RBI, 117 runs scored, 47 doubles, two triples, 13 stolen bases, a 157 wRC+, .393 wOBA, 7.1 wins above replacement (WAR) and an MLB-leading 199 hits.
Among NL players, Freeman finished first in on-base percentage and runs scored, second in batting average, wOBA, and wRC+, third in WAR, seventh in slugging percentage and eighth in RBI.
MVP winners will be revealed on MLB Network live at 3 p.m. on Thursday, November 17.
In total, the Dodgers have 14 MVP winners with Cody Bellinger (2019) being the last to accomplish it. In addition to Bellinger, Clayton Kershaw (2014), Kirk Gibson (1988), Steve Garvey (1974), Sandy Koufax (1963), Maury Wills (1962), Don Newcombe (1956), Roy Campanella (1955, 1953, 1951), Jackie Robinson (1949), Dolph Camille (1941), Dazzy Vance (1924) and Jake Daubert (1913) have also won MVP while with the Dodgers.
Freddie Freeman lost 2022 Players Choice National League Outstanding Player Award
While Goldschmidt is expected to win the MVP, he was already voted the winner of the 2022 Players Choice National League Outstanding Player Award over Freeman and Austin Riley of the Braves.
The 35-year-old batted .317/.404/.578 with 41 doubles, 35 home runs and 115 RBI in his fourth season with the Cardinals. He led the NL in slugging percentage, .981 on-base plus slugging and 180 OPS+.
Goldschmidt also was a finalist for Player of the Year, which went to New York Yankees free agent Aaron Judge.
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