Dodgers Interview: Freddie Freeman Heating Up at the Right Time

LOS ANGELES — After weeks of searching for consistency at the plate, Freddie Freeman may finally be finding his swing—and not a moment too soon for the Dodgers.

Coming off Wednesday night’s dramatic walk-off single, Freeman kept the momentum going Thursday against the White Sox, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs in the Dodgers’ 6–2 win at Chavez Ravine. The veteran first baseman looked locked in again—slapping the ball to all fields and nearly going yard on a deep drive to right that was only kept in the yard by a spectacular fence-climbing grab from Chicago’s Mike Tauchman.

After the game, Freeman shared that the recent uptick in performance wasn’t a sudden breakthrough—it’s been a grind behind the scenes.

“Yeah, I mean obviously it’s been trending a lot better,” Freeman said. “Even that first game in Kansas City—I didn’t get any hits, but I felt a little bit better. Then I got a few knocks in that last game there, and now the last couple nights, it’s been coming together.”

Freeman’s timing and swing mechanics have clearly improved, and he pointed to a specific adjustment—one he’s tried multiple times this season.

“The cue I’ve been using is actually something I went back to from the World Series,” Freeman explained. “The step-out cue. This is like the fourth time I’ve tried it this year, and finally, fourth time was the charm.”

The step-out adjustment, a small mechanical tweak in his load and timing, has helped Freeman stay back on pitches—particularly breaking balls that had been giving him trouble during his recent slump.

“Even that 3-2 curveball that I hit, the one that got robbed—earlier this year I’d probably top it foul,” he said. “So it’s just better swings all around.”

Freeman’s two-run double in the third inning off Aaron Civale was vintage Freddie—barreled up to the opposite field with a smooth, compact stroke. His first-inning RBI double plated Shohei Ohtani and set the tone for the Dodgers early.

After a tough stretch in June where Freeman’s average dipped and his extra-base hits dried up, seeing the slugger hit balls with authority again is a massive boost for L.A., especially with Max Muncy now sidelined and the offense needing veteran leadership.

Freeman didn’t just talk about his own resurgence—he made sure to shout out Dustin May, who dazzled on the mound Thursday night. May went seven strong innings, striking out nine and allowing just four hits, earning his fifth win of the year.

“You’ve seen everything Dustin’s been through the last couple years—from the arm to the esophagus issue—and for him to come out like that tonight, it’s just awesome,” Freeman said. “When he’s got that kind of command to go with his electric stuff, that’s what he can do. He was 97 to 99 tonight, throwing backdoor sliders, cutters, breaking bats… electric.”

If this version of Freddie Freeman is here to stay, the Dodgers are in great shape heading into the All-Star break. With Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts getting on base in front of him and young bats like Andy Pages and Dalton Rushing learning the ropes, the Dodgers’ offense runs best when Freeman is anchoring the heart of the order.

For now, he’s not getting ahead of himself—just focusing on building good at-bats and keeping that step-out cue in place.

“It feels better,” he said. “It’s been a grind, but we’re trending in the right direction. Just got to keep it rolling.”

Dodger fans couldn’t agree more.

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