Coming into Sunday’s action, five active players — Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto, Nelson Cruz, Elvis Andrus and Andrew McCutchen — had 2,000 or more career hits. During Sunday night’s game against the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman joined the club.
Freeman came into the game with 1,998 career knocks. After starting the game 0-for-2, Freeman got hit No. 1,999 in the sixth inning.
Then, in the eighth inning, he came to the plate with two outs. Freeman drove a 2-1 pitch from Houston’s Rafael Montero into right field, by the outstretched arm of Kyle Tucker. Freeman ran into second safely for an RBI double and his 2,000th career hit.
"Welcome to the 2,000 hit club, Freddie Freeman." pic.twitter.com/cavRDj09cd
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 26, 2023
Baseball fans sent Freeman well-deserved congratulations for his milestone.
Congrats Freddie Freeman on 2,000 career hits. Will always be a Braves legend in my mind. Hope he continues to have an excellent career.
pic.twitter.com/dESXwRNT5v— Chris Clegg (@RotoClegg) June 26, 2023
https://twitter.com/DMAC_LA/status/1673140515804688384
Freddie Freeman gets hit No. 2,000 of his career.
It’s an RBI double that scores Mookie Betts and brings the Dodgers within 2.
Freeman is getting a standing ovation at Dodger Stadium, and rightfully so. What a special player.
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) June 26, 2023
Freddie Freeman vs Paul Goldschmidt:
Freeman:
1800 G .299/.386/.511/.897
2000 H, 306 HRs, 52.4 WARGoldy:
1695 G .295/.390/.525/.915
1833 H, 328 HRs, 60.8 WARNot here to rank them, just appreciating 2 future Hall of Famers with remarkably similar careers 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/ibJWXBnRyD
— Cardinals Stats And Facts (@STL_Stats_Facts) June 26, 2023
In addition to being a significant milestone in a great career, the hit was also big in the context of the game.
It drove in Mookie Betts, to cut the Los Angeles deficit to 4-2. One hitter later, Freeman came around to score on a game-tying two-run homer from Will Smith.
One batter after Freddie Freeman got his 2,000th hit, Will Smith goes dead center for a game-tying two-run homer pic.twitter.com/ZiN1k3uMBC
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) June 26, 2023
Freeman’s 2,000th career hit was No. 296 as a member of the Dodgers. The first 1,794 hits came with the Atlanta Braves.
Freeman is the 291st player in MLB history to reach 2,000 hits. More likely than not, the next member person to join that club was in the visiting dugout on Sunday. Astros second baseman José Altuve has 1,961 hits.
[Photo Credit: ESPN]