Dodgers News: Freddie Freeman is Truly One of a Kind, Says Manager and Teammates
When taking a quick trip down memory lane, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed first baseman Freddie Freeman to a six-year, $162 million contract before the 2022 season.
Inking the southern California native to a long term deal gave the Dodgers much needed stability at first base, and gave them another weapon toward the top of the order.
He's now in the midst of the second year of that contract, and it's a pact that's arguably the biggest bargain in MLB as Freeman finds himself in the thick of the MVP conversation.
Freeman's always been known to come up big in crucial spots, and his 1.005 OPS and obscene .476 on-base percentage with 61 RBI when runners are in scoring position is proof enough of that.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and his teammates are quick to heap praise on the LA star, but for Roberts, it's what Freeman does on an everyday basis that stands out to him -- and he invoked one of Freeman's legendary teammates when crediting the first baseman.
“I’ve never seen anyone like him. He does not give anything away,” Roberts said. “I’ve never seen a pitcher like Clayton Kershaw as far as how every single throw is with intent. It’s intentional. That’s 110 pitches, 100 pitches a night every fifth day. I’ve never seen anyone play every single pitch on offense and defense, 150 pitches, on the bases, every single night – he doesn’t give away a pitch. One hundred and sixty-two times. I’ve never seen it.”
For Jason Heyward, a teammate of Freeman for five and a half years between their time with the Atlanta Braves and now in LA, he emphasized just how hard it is to compete at a high level on a daily basis when praising him.
“Doesn’t take a play off. Does not take one play off,” Heyward said. “I’m talking as a player. I know fans, writers, all that stuff – everyone has an opinion. But to not take a play off – that’s the hardest thing to do when you’re out there 162.”
via Bill Plunkett
So Freeman will try to build upon his already impressive case for NL MVP while getting ready to lead the Dodgers into the playoffs.
And people at multiple levels in the organization know they can count on the ever reliable veteran to keep doing big things down the stretch.
