Baseball flew into the Los Angeles night, only to be snagged by the center field wall.
“It’s gone,” Freddie Freeman thought to himself after the hit.
During a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Freeman’s eighth-inning flyout marked the fifth time in three consecutive games he has hit the warning track. No player managed to send one over the fence at Uniqlo Field.
The 36-year-old Freeman was probably just 20 feet short of becoming the Major League home run king. Yet, he managed to chuckle at his near misses, especially after recording his first three hits of the season in that game.
“I feel good,” he mentioned.
If his performance continues, he could be the Dodgers’ first baseman even into his age 40 season. He had expressed this desire during spring training, stating he wanted to retire with the Dodgers and play for three more seasons.
I was perhaps a bit doubtful.
It’s challenging enough for a 40-year-old to compete in the majors, much less excel at a key offensive position on a World Series contender.
Freeman ranked third in batting in the National League last year, but his line drives declined and his strikeouts were on the rise. Defensively, he struggled and was limited when it came to running. Sure, he had just come back from ankle surgery, but isn’t there an age when physical issues become routine? It felt like he was hitting that milestone.
Yet, here he is, playing as if he’s found some mythical fountain of youth.
Throughout the Diamondbacks series, Freeman topped the league in hard-hit balls. He moved more effectively in the field.
He’s clearly nearing the end of his career, but it seems likely he could be an All-Star for a few more seasons.
“When you’re feeling good, being healthy lets you enjoy the game,” Freeman said.
Last season, however, proved to be tougher than he anticipated.
Post-2024 World Series, he underwent ankle surgery and spent much of the winter rehabbing instead of training.
“I couldn’t work on my lower body last year,” he shared.
No rushing back to deadlifts for him; it was primarily about rebuilding strength in his ankles and calves.
He barely managed to get a hit.
Freeman managed only to start hitting right before the team’s Fan Fest, he clarified, largely because he didn’t want to appear unprepared during the event.
“I didn’t want to say no, so I pushed myself,” he recounted.
For much of last season, his ankle was a constant issue, requiring three hours of treatment before each game. Running the bases? Not encouraged.
“Last year was a struggle,” Freeman recalled. “I faced many challenges, but I fought to perform every day.”
Even though he felt he struggled defensively, he was proud of his ability to push through.
He ended the season with a .295 batting average, 24 home runs, and 90 RBIs, joking that while expectations might be high, those stats were still respectable.
Afterward, he resolved not to panic if he didn’t hit in the early games this season. Instead, he made solid contact, rediscovering his stance and power from earlier seasons.
Freeman noted, “Not all outs are created equal.”
“Recently, I was really hitting the ball well,” he said. “If I’m in the right position, it’s more about swinging for strikes than just the ball.”
His patience paid off on Saturday; he landed two singles, and Kyle Tucker’s double provided the Dodgers with a thrilling 3-2 comeback win.
“Pre-game work helps set the tone for the game,” he explained.
Freeman highlighted a diving catch he made early in the game, a play that he couldn’t have executed last year.
Whenever the Dodgers clinch a series, they celebrate with tequila shots. Freeman, however, opts for a small splash of wine in a coffee cup, enjoying just an ounce or two at a time. His current choice? A 2015 Château Cheval Blanc, a wine still developing but promising longevity.
Perhaps he feels the same way about his own future.
