By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH — Along the banks of the Allegheny River at PNC Park, another milestone was added to Freddie Freeman’s remarkable career.
During the Dodgers’ 12-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night, Freeman collected the 2,500th hit of his major league career with a run-scoring single to shallow center field in the seventh inning.
For a player who has built a résumé worthy of Hall of Fame consideration, the moment still carried special meaning.
“It means a lot,” Freeman said. “When your manager and teammates appreciate what you’ve done over the course of your career, it does mean a lot. To step back and realize how long you have to play and perform at a high level over many, many years to get there, it does mean a lot.”
The milestone came during an offensive explosion by Los Angeles. The Dodgers scored 10 runs in the seventh inning, their first double-digit inning since June 2, 2021, when they put up 11 runs against the St. Louis Cardinals. It was also the second time in three games that Los Angeles scored at least nine runs in a single inning after posting a nine-run frame against the Angels earlier in the week.
While the Dodgers celebrated another lopsided victory, Freeman took a moment to appreciate the significance of his accomplishment.
“If you would have asked me 10 years ago, I probably would have brushed it off and kept going,” Freeman said. “But as you get older, you do get more emotional and sentimental. It is nice for people to take a moment and appreciate what you’ve done in this game. It is special.”
The veteran first baseman has been one of baseball’s hottest hitters in recent weeks. Over his last 18 games, Freeman has batted .357 with six home runs, five doubles and a .686 slugging percentage.
Earlier in the game, Freeman doubled off Pirates ace Paul Skenes before recording his historic hit later in the contest.
The numbers behind the milestone further illustrate the consistency that has defined Freeman’s 17-year career. Of his 2,500 hits, 1,305 have come on the road. He has recorded 1,794 hits against right-handed pitchers and 706 against left-handers. Against Pittsburgh, Freeman now owns 89 career hits, including 39 in 38 games played at PNC Park.
Dodgers pitcher Eric Lauer, who has been on the wrong side of three of Freeman’s 2,500 hits, described the challenge of facing the eight-time All-Star.
“I would describe him as a pesky hitter,” Lauer said. “He’s always going to put together a good at-bat. He’s always going to work the count. He’s not overly aggressive, but he does damage if you miss. He’s just overall one of the greatest hitters of our generation, and in the game in general.”
At 35 years old, Freeman continues to perform at an elite level, adding another milestone to a career that has already included an MVP Award, a World Series championship and multiple All-Star appearances.
With 2,500 hits now in the books, the Dodgers star has further cemented his place among the game’s most accomplished hitters of his era.