Dodgers News: Freddie Freeman Has His Eye on Next Big Milestone
It took Freddie Freeman just over 1,800 games to reach a milestone that not many in baseball reach.
On Sunday evening against the Houston Astros, the Dodgers first baseman hit a ball just past right fielder Kyle Tucker and into the history books, reaching the 2,000 hit milestone in front of a raucous Dodger Stadium crowd.
But the Orange County native isn't satisfied with that threshold.
He wants more.
"Obviously, you get to 2,000, now you want to get to 3,000,” Freeman said. “That’s only in good health and if I can keep playing the way I want to play. Father Time … it’s going to come up at some point. But obviously, that would be really cool. You guys know, 3,000 hits, and hits (in general) mean a lot to me.” (via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic)
It's been quite a journey for the 33 year old.
Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2007 as an 18 year old, he reached the majors in 2010 and soon after established himself as one of the best pure hitters in the game.
He capped off his storied tenure in the Peach State with a World Series championship, and then headed back to his west coast roots, and since then it's been all about family for the veteran.
His father Fred has been a staple at Dodger Stadium since his son donned the blue, and he was on hand this weekend to see his son make history.
"... it means a lot to do it at home because of my family being here. When you do stuff like this, I think it’s just all the hard work that I think about with my dad back in the day, all the batting practice he’s thrown. It’s not just me, it’s him, it’s all the sacrifices he’s made, my family’s made.” (via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic)
Fred's son has been a staple in the Dodgers lineup since he made the journey back home, and he looks all but guaranteed to be an all star in 2023.
But for the younger Freeman, it's all about trying to do his job on a daily basis -- and he's racked up the hits to prove it.
But he's not done, and he's looking ahead to the next achievement, one that would make him a lock for Cooperstown.
And if he keeps up the production and stays healthy, Freddie has a chance to reach just that, and maybe do it in Dodger Blue.
Freddie Freeman's settled in and making history back home, and if No. 5 has anything to say about it, the standing ovation he received on Sunday won't be the last one he gets.
