Sticking to the discipline that defines his career, Freddie Freeman prioritizes contact over vanity metrics to spark the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup despite a surprising power slump.
Freddie Freeman continues to produce for the Los Angeles Dodgers even though his usual power has been missing for an extended stretch.
The 10-time All-Star has not homered since July 4 in a 3-0 home win against the San Diego Padres, a drought covering 46 games and 193 plate appearances.
Freeman has also recorded only 10 doubles during that span.
A surprising development
The lack of extra-base damage has surprised him, but he does not plan to alter the approach that has defined his career.
According to Bill Plunkett from The Orange County Register, Freeman has no interest in chasing home runs or extra-base hits.
The veteran explained that doing so would take him away from the type of hitter he has been for 17 seasons.
Freeman believes his priority should remain hitting for average, reaching base consistently and trusting that power will eventually follow naturally rather than forcing it.
He would like to finish with more than 20 home runs, but with only 24 games remaining, he intends to maintain the same approach.
“No. Absolutely not. I will never chase a home run or chase an extra-base hit. That’s not who I am. I like to hit and, in my case over 17 years, that (slugging) has come," Freeman said.
"This year, it hasn’t come. I’m not going to go chase it because I am not a .280, .270 hitter, and if I chase home runs, that’s where my average is going to go and I don’t want to do that.
“I’d rather hit .300 even though I know I don’t steal bases and do all that," he continued. "I still know I’m going to get on base 250-plus times a year. I view things differently. Believe me, I’d love to hit 20-plus home runs a year. Am I going to do it? I’ve got 20-some games. We’ll figure it out.”
Freeman has 15 home runs, 63 RBIs and an .839 OPS in 133 games this season. The 15 home runs would represent the lowest total of his career.
However, the 36-year-old continues finding other ways to contribute.
He’s hitting .304, the highest average among Dodgers players.
Freeman has hit at least .300 in nine of his 17 MLB seasons, including three since joining Los Angeles.
His recent road trip also demonstrated that the absence of home run power has not prevented him from producing.
Freeman recorded at least one hit in five of the Dodgers’ six games against the Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers.
He went 8-for-23 (.348) with two doubles and two RBIs during that stretch.
Los Angeles still finished the trip 2-4.
The Dodgers were swept by Atlanta before recovering to take two of three from Detroit.
Freeman understands what makes him successful
Freeman does not allow one missing element of his game to dictate every plate appearance.
Instead of selling out for power, Freeman stays committed to controlling the strike zone, using the entire field and taking what pitchers give him.
That discipline has allowed him to remain productive even when the ball is not leaving the park.
His experience also gives him the confidence to avoid overreacting to a prolonged drought.
Freeman has been through enough seasons to understand that forcing results can create bigger problems.
His consistency, preparation, and ability to separate process from outcome remain valuable for a Dodgers lineup built around multiple stars.
The power has not been there lately.
Freeman, however, is still finding ways to be one of Los Angeles’ most dependable hitters.
