Why a .300 batting average matters to Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman

PHOENIX — For the first time since grounding out to end the 11th inning of Game 7 of the World Series, Freddie Freeman entered the batter’s box in the first inning Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians at Camelback Ranch. Freeman was greeted by cheers from the thousands of Dodgers fans in attendance.

After finishing third in his first at-bat, Freeman hit a double to left center for two runs in the third inning before being relieved in the Dodgers’ 11-3 victory.

Freeman, who struggled last season with the lingering effects of a right ankle injury he suffered late in the 2024 season, said having a more typical offseason was crucial to regaining his fitness.

“I’ve been in a good place since I started hitting this offseason,” Freeman said of his swing. “It’s nice to be able to hit a ball to left center already, that’s a good sign. … I hadn’t swung a bat until the day before FanFest last year. Having a normal offseason definitely helps.”

Although he is still an All-Star and recipient of MVP votes, Freeman has seen a slight decline in production over the past two seasons compared to his first two with the Dodgers. Freeman posted on-base percentages of .407 and .410, while collecting a league-leading 47 and 59 doubles, respectively, in 2022 and 2023. His OBP fell to .378 in 2024 and .367 in 2025.

But for Freeman, it’s his contact numbers that have been a thorn in his side all offseason.

His .295 batting average was third best in the National League last season, but still wasn’t good enough for Freeman, a career .300 hitter.

“There was no 3 at the start of my batting average last year, and that pisses me off,” Freeman said last week. “That’s always my goal, to hit .300. I like hits. I’m a hitter. Three ahead of a batting average means a lot to me. I know batting average and that kind of thing doesn’t mean a lot to a lot of people these days, but to me it does. If you hit .300, that means you’re on base a lot and you’re scoring runs for your team, so that’s the goal, .300 again.”

Freeman landed on the injured list early last April after aggravating his surgically repaired right ankle, causing him to miss nine games and setting the tone for a season in which he never felt quite right.

“I was taping my ankle until about August,” Freeman said. “I was never really in a good situation last year. There was a lot of treatment, and I think I played well for that, and we won again, so I’m really looking forward to this year.”

One area Freeman thinks he can improve is his defense. A former Gold Glover, Freeman is considered a below-average defensive player in defensive runs saved (minus-7) and above-average putouts (minus-6).

“I didn’t like the way I played defense last year and I thought it was just because I wasn’t mobile enough,” Freeman said. “So that’s a really big goal of mine, to play better early this year, get more balls, be able to cover more things. So, that’s going to be a key for me.”

Manager Dave Roberts is optimistic about what his veteran first baseman can do, even at 36 years old.

“I think he takes care of himself very well,” Roberts said. “I think that age is easy to point to, but I really believe he’s been depressed for two years.

“Right now, today is as good as I’ve seen his swing in a week’s sample, [better] that I have [seen] in two years. So he is in a good position physically, mechanically. So if we can keep him healthy, I just don’t see why he can’t have the year he expects, and with that, with everything he’s been through the last couple of years, he was still very productive.

Freeman said last week he hopes to play four more years, until his 20th season as a major league player.

“In this fourth year, I will be 40,” Freeman said. “Four is just a number that’s been floating around. Is it less? Is it more? I don’t know, but that’s kind of where I’m at. I feel good right now, so it’s just been floating around because it would be even in 20 years, I’ll be 40. I have a family that I would love to come home to. I love this game; I love playing it, but for me, if I can make it four, that would be 20 years. I think that’s enough.

Etc.

After major shoulder surgery in 2024 that forced him to miss all of last season, right-hander Gavin Stone made his return to the mound smoothly, pitching a scoreless first inning and striking out two against the Guardians.

“It was great,” said Stone, who last pitched for the Dodgers on Aug. 31, 2024. “There was definitely a lot of hard work over the past year. Rehab was a tough grind, but it’s good to be back out there.”