Roger Arrieta
It’s official. Freddie Freeman took his first cuts as a Dodger on Tuesday afternoon in Arizona.
As expected, Freeman arrived to much fanfare. You could hear the crowd chanting his name — Fredd-ie. Fredd-ie. Fredd-ie — as he stepped into the box for his first at bat. We didn’t see the power out of him, but his consistency was on display. And that’s why we signed him.
Freeman came up to bat in the bottom of the first — he batted third, behind the Turners and in front of Will Smith — and promptly slapped 1-2 curve to left, moving Justin Turner to third after he doubled off the base of the wall.
Freeman has been a hitting machine for the last 10 years, and has evolved into one of the game’s most consistently elite hitters in the last five. Sportsnet shared a handy graphic giving us the highlights most of us are familiar with at this point.
It goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway, Freeman is good. He’s very good, and he offers us an anchor that we’ve been casting about for since Cody Bellinger’s collapse and Corey Seager’s departure. Of course, we’ve got Trea Turner, the reigning National League batting champion, hitting atop the order. Not to mention Justin Turner, who’s no slouch himself when he’s healthy, and Max Muncy, another solid contributor, albeit one with his own health concerns.
This lineup isn’t lacking talent or star power. But there’s an electricity that has come with the Freeman signing that seems to be giving everyone a sense that this signing is something special.
I can’t help but think part of it is knowing that after losing to the Braves in the playoffs, we know the next time we face them they can’t help but be demoralized that the face of their franchise is now the grinning face of ours.
Freeman himself acknowledged how odd it is hearing Dodgers fans chanting his name.
“It was definitely nice. It’s usually not, hearing it from Dodgers fans over the course of my career,” he told Sportsnet LA’s Kirsten Watson. “But it was nice to get a very nice welcome.”
Sporting his blue spring training jersey, Freeman said putting on his white Dodger jersey will be even more special, but he was happy to start a “new chapter.”
Between press conferences, photoshoots, and finding a place to live, Freeman called the initial days he’s spent as a Dodger a “whirlwind” that’s kept him from finding a routine. Tuesday was the first morning he said he hasn’t had to do anything, giving him plenty of time to prepare for the game.
Freeman looked comfortable in blue in the box.
He fell behind 0-2 in his second at bat but fouled off four balls and worked the count back to 2-2 by the eighth pitch.
The end result wasn’t as productive as his first appearance. Joey Votto through his slow chopper to second to get Trea Turner out but Freeman hustled down the line, beating out the relay to prevent the double play.
The Dodgers bats didn’t really come alive until starters started to come out after 4th inning, though Smith did blast a solo home run in the 5th.
Freeman’s day was done after his second plate appearance.
Maybe Dave Roberts wanted to give him a mental break. Freeman said he’s trying to learn the names of three new people every day as he tries to get acclimated to the staff.
Besides getting used to the people, Freeman said he and his family are still getting used to the Dodger blue. But he sounds excited.
“When that chapter got closed on the Braves, this is the only place I wanted to come.”
We’re glad you’re here Freddie. Welcome to LA.
