Freddie Freeman Makes Dodgers Franchise History Before July

4 Min Read

Originally published by DodgerBlue.com

Freddie Freeman has excelled throughout his career and maintained an elite level of production since signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2022 season.

So far this year, Freeman earned National League Player of the Month honors for May after hitting .400/.462/.722 over 28 games, going 46-for-115, with six home runs, 26 RBI, 28 runs scored, 17 doubles, one triple and four stolen bases.

Although the 33-year-old did not maintain that otherworldly level of production in June, he was still able to make some Dodgers franchise history during the month.

Freeman became the first Dodgers player to reach 100 hits, 50 RBI and 10 stolen bases before July since RBI was first tracked in 1920.

Talking about the accomplishment, Freeman joked about his stolen base total while recognizing the historical significance of that feat, via SportsNet LA:

“We all need to talk about that last one? Ten stolen bases. Isn’t that cool? Sneak them in every once in a while. I guess that’s pretty cool. This organization has been around for a very, very long time.”

As the calendar now turns to July, Freeman has 103 hits, 53 RBI and 11 stolen bases. In addition, he is batting .320/.401/.543 with 28 doubles, 14 home runs, one triple and 65 runs scored.

Freeman reached the marks with 33 hits, nine RBI and four stolen bases in March and April; 46 hits, 26 RBI and four stolen bases in May; and 24 hits, 18 RBI and three stolen bases in June.

During May, he hit safely in all but two games in the month, which included a 20-game hitting streak from May 10 through June 2. Freeman also recorded multiple hits in 14 of his 20 games.

Freeman leads the Dodgers in hits, doubles, batting average, wRC+, on-base plus slugging, runs scored and stolen bases. He is second in RBI to J.D. Martinez and on-base percentage to Will Smith, third in slugging percentage and fourth in home runs.

Only Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. and Arizona Diamondbacks rookie All-Star Corbin Carroll have a higher WAR than Freeman in the NL. He trails only Acuña and Miami Marlins star Luis Arraez in wRC+.

Freddie Freeman voted All-Star Game starter

The Dodgers had Betts, Martinez and Freeman voted among the 2023 MLB All-Star Game starters on the National League.

Freeman has become the first Dodgers first baseman to start in the MLB All-Star Game via fan voting since Steve Garvey did so from 1974-1980. Gil Hodges (1951) is the only other Dodgers first baseman to start in an All-Star Game.

It’s the seventh All-Star Game selection for Freeman and his fourth career start in a Midsummer Classic, with the previous three coming consecutively from 2018-21.

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