(Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
Many people assume the NL MVP race is exclusively between Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts and Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr.
Perhaps they are right, but let’s not forget about the amazing year Freddie Freeman is enjoying in Dodger blue.
In any other year, Freeman would be considered the frontrunner for MVP honors with the kind of numbers he has.
On Monday, he entered an exclusive group after stealing his 20th base.
“Freddie Freeman is the fourth player in AL/NL history with 25+ home runs, 50+ doubles and 20+ stolen bases in a single season. The others: Grady Sizemore (2006), Alfonso Soriano (2002), Chuck Klein (1932),” MLB researcher Brent Maguire tweeted.
Freddie Freeman is the fourth player in AL/NL history with 25+ home runs, 50+ doubles and 20+ stolen bases in a single season.
The others:
Grady Sizemore (2006)
Alfonso Soriano (2002)
Chuck Klein (1932)
— Brent Maguire (@bmags94) September 19, 2023
If we praise Acuna for being the most dynamic offensive producer in baseball, we should not forget about Freeman.
He might not steal as many bases as the Braves’ phenom, but with a league-leading 55 doubles (!), he puts himself in scoring position anyway.
Freeman has excellent contact skills (he is sporting a .335 batting average), power (26 home runs and 93 RBI), and can even run a little as his 20 steals suggest.
He also fields his position well.
His .983 OPS is one of the best of his career, too.
Betts might have more power, but Freeman has been just as good if not slightly better as a hitter when we consider the whole package.
Betts’ defensive prowess and versatility give him the slightest of edges in an MVP race, at least among Dodgers, but Freeman is enjoying a fantastic year and is showing age (he just turned 34) is just a number.
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