Freddie Freeman recorded yet another milestone on Sunday, but unfortunately his team didn't enjoy as much success as he did.
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman doubled in the eighth inning of Sunday's game against the Astros, marking the 2,000th hit of his career.
Surrounded by uproarious chants of "Fre-ddie! Fre-ddie!", Freeman joined that rarefied air only five other active MLB players had breathed so far. He became the sixth active player to collect 2,000 career hits, and he did so in a critical moment for LA.
His RBI double narrowed the Astros' lead and put the Dodgers on track for a thrilling comeback game. Houston would win it 6-5 in extras, but Freeman's incredible feat stands tall. He did it. He hit 2,000.
The Dodgers lost during Freeman's record-setting game just as they did a month again when he recorded his 300th career homer. One player's gain is his team's loss? The incidents are just coincidental, but it's hard not to wonder whether there's some kind of bad luck streak going on.
Freddie Freeman collects 2,000th career hit, Dodgers collect another loss
At 33 years old, Freeman now turns his attention to the golden goose: 3,000 career hits, which would all but guarantee him a spot in the Hall of Fame. According to ESPN, Freeman has averaged 166 hits per year in his last 11 seasons (not counting the COVID-shortened one). At that rate, he could realistically reach 3,000 by 2029.
So it's not wholly out of reach. Freeman, who left the Braves for the Dodgers two offseasons ago, has quickly become a fan-favorite in LA even with his inconsistencies at the plate. He had a transcendental month of May followed by a sluggish June, and in Sunday's game, he was in the middle of an 0-for-11 slump before getting his first double in the sixth inning.
Freeman is currently slashing .317/.397/.549 with 14 homers and 48 RBIs in 2023 and trying to build off of last year's success, when he led the majors in hits and doubles and led the NL in on-base percentage.
Will Father Time enfeeble Freeman this season or can he get back into the swing of things and push the Dodgers closer into playoff contention?