Freddie Freeman has been a consistent presence at the plate for the Los Angeles Dodgers all season, which is a continuation of what he has done throughout what should wind up being a Hall of Fame career.
The 32-year-old is batting .311/.387/.510 with 12 home runs and 56 RBI while starting in every one of the Dodgers’ 86 games. But more recently, Freeman has been even better, hitting .400/.419/.700 over the last week, which includes back-to-back four-hit games.
Freeman previously said he hasn’t done anything differently at the plate to increase his production and credits the success to just feeling good and getting into the zone, via SportsNet LA:
“I feel like you get into those little zones where you get good pitches to hit and you don’t miss them. You just try to ride it as long as you possibly can because it’s going to end soon. Unfortunately these stretches don’t last very long. But I feel good at the plate. I’m hitting balls hard to left field, so that’s what’s working.”
This season, Freeman is pulling the ball in 34.7% of his plate appearance and going to the opposite field 32.8% of the time. But in July he has increased his pull rate to 38.9%, while his opposite-field hit rate has dropped to 27.8%.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has stated Freeman is at his best when he’s able to pull the ball with power, but the first baseman noted that comes with some downsides and he has always tried to remain consistent with his approach.
“I’ve also been striking out more than I want to as well,” Freeman said in early July about his manager’s comments. “So I mean, you’re going to give and take here and there. So I’m not trying to do anything different.
“Obviously, everyone knows I’ve been in this league a long time and I like to go to left-center, so they’re going to pitch inside a little bit more. So sometimes you just need to let them know, and I’m trying to push them back out so I can hit my single to left.”
Freeman declined Home Run Derby invite
The Dodgers added two more representatives to the 2022 MLB All-Star Game as Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin were selected among National League pitchers. They joined Mookie Betts and Trea Turner, who previously were voted in as NL starters.
It was presumed Freeman would also be elected with his teammates, but he was pushed out due to a stacked group at first base. While it’s possible he’ll eventually get named to the All-Star Game as an injury replacement, one event Freeman already ruled out is the 2022 Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium.
He declined an invitation to participate but didn’t rule out competing in future events. Freeman was among the participants in the 2018 Home Run Derby and lost in the first round to eventual champion Bryce Harper.
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