Freddie Freeman Reaches 200-Hit Milestone in Record-Breaking Season
LOS ANGELES — Freddie Freeman, the first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has reached a significant milestone in his career. On Friday, Freeman collected his 200th hit of the season, marking the first time he has achieved this feat in his career. The hit came in the first inning against Giants left-hander Sean Manaea, as Freeman dribbled a two-strike slider through the infield. Dodger Stadium erupted in applause as Freeman doffed his helmet at first base, acknowledging the crowd’s appreciation.
For Freeman, hits hold great importance. Earlier this summer, when he surpassed 2,000 career hits, he expressed his desire to reach the 3,000-hit mark. Despite his consistency and dedication to being in the lineup every day, he had never before recorded 200 hits in a single season. This achievement is a testament to his unwavering approach and relentless pursuit of success.
The significance of Freeman’s accomplishment is further highlighted by the fact that it has been four years since any player reached the 200-hit mark in a season. Alongside former Atlanta Braves teammate Ronald Acuña Jr. and Miami Marlins’ Luis Arraez, Freeman joins an exclusive group of players to achieve this milestone in the 2023 season. With nine games remaining, he is on pace to be the only player to reach 200 hits this year. This marks the most players to achieve this feat in a single season since 2017.
The Dodgers organization also celebrates this achievement, as it has been nearly two decades since a player on their team recorded 200 hits in a season. The last Dodger to accomplish this was Adrián Beltré in 2004. Only six other Dodgers have achieved this milestone since the franchise moved to Los Angeles, with Steve Garvey accomplishing it six times himself.
Freeman’s 200-hit season is just one of many milestones he has reached in what could be considered his best offensive season over a full 162-game campaign. With a 160 OPS+ entering Friday’s game, Freeman has produced his highest offensive performance outside of his MVP season in the shortened 2020 campaign. He is also on the verge of becoming the first player since World War II to record 60 or more doubles in a single season. Additionally, he has set a career-best stolen base rate.
These exceptional achievements place Freeman in contention for the MVP award once again. His offensive prowess combined with his position as a first baseman puts him in rare territory. He is now one of only 31 players in history to record at least 200 hits, 20 home runs, and 20 stolen bases in a single season. What sets Freeman apart is that none of the other players who have achieved this feat were primarily first basemen.
Freddie Freeman’s 200-hit milestone is a testament to his consistency, dedication, and unwavering pursuit of success. As he continues to make history in the 2023 season, he solidifies his position as one of the game’s elite players. With his sights set on even greater achievements, Freeman’s impact on the Dodgers and the sport of baseball as a whole cannot be overstated.