As a surprise to no one (at least it shouldn’t have been), in the bottom of the first inning on the very first pitch of his very first Spring Training 2024 at-bat on Friday afternoon at Camelback Ranch, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman smoked a solo home run to left field off of 26-year-old San Diego Padres right-hander Jhony Brito to give the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead.

But wait, there’s more!

In a game where failing two times out of three will most likely land you in the sacred Halls of Cooperstown, most guys would have been perfectly content with having only one hit and only one RBI in a game, especially a Spring Training game where getting more than two at-bats is rare.

Not so Freddie Freeman.

Although you will never hear him brag or gloat about it (or even mention it without being asked), the extremely popular and extremely humble 34-year-old Villa Park, CA native and second round draft pick in 2007 by the Atlanta Braves out of El Modena High School in Orange, CA also had a RBI sacrafice fly to right field with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning to give his team a then 3-0 lead in the Dodgers eventual 4-1 win over the Friars.

“It’s just nice to play a game. It feels like I’ve been here for a couple weeks just practicing,” Freeman kidded with SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson postgame. “The first few games you’re just trying to see strikes and swing at the right pitches, and I was able to do that today.”

Yes, you were. Again.

“Hitters hit, and, you know, just a couple days ago (Freeman) was in the batting cage saying he thinks he forgot how to hit,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told Watson with a smile. “So, when the lights come on, Freddie goes out there and does what Freddie does. So, a good start to his Spring.”

Yes, it is. Again.

Play Ball!

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