Freeman's No. 200 pushes HR streak to 4
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ATLANTA -- Freddie Freeman reached a milestone and experienced a career first when he extended his recent power barrage by hitting a game-tying home run in the seventh inning of Sunday afternoon’s 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Brewers at SunTrust Park.
Freeman’s solo shot off Brandon Woodruff was the 200th home run of his career. The Braves first baseman has now homered in four straight games for the first time in his career.
“One day, I’ll look back at it and think it’s pretty special,” Freeman said. “But right now, I’m just getting over the loss.”
Freeman stands as one of nine players to hit 200 home runs for the Braves. He joins Hank Aaron, Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones, Eddie Mathews and Dale Murphy as the only players in franchise history to tally 200 homers and 300 doubles.
“It just speaks volumes to who he is,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He’s one of the elite players in the league.”
Freeman has batted .425 with four homers and a 1.302 OPS over his past 10 games. He has tallied eight of his 11 home runs over his past 83 at-bats. His recent success indicates his power might be getting back to where it was before his left wrist was fractured by a pitch six weeks into the 2017 season.
“He’s a player that I looked up to and watched as a kid, especially after I signed with the Braves,” Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. said. “I consider it a privilege to be able to play with him.”
The best span of Freeman’s career stretched from June 15, 2016 to May 17, 2017 (the day his wrist was fractured). Within this period, he hit .339 with 38 homers, a 1.127 OPS and 189 weighted runs created plus (wRC+). His average exit velocity was 91.6 mph, and he barreled 16.6 percent of balls in play.
Freeman’s 2019 metrics entering Sunday included an average velocity of 91.0 mph and 17.6 percent barrel percentage. While hitting .303 with an .892 OPS and 133 wRC+ from July 4, 2017 through the end of last season, his average exit velocity was 89.1 mph and he barreled 9.5 percent of balls in play.