Freeman's Historic Hit Milestone
Freddie Freeman Collects 2,500th Career Hit, Debates Push for 3,000
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Key Points
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Freeman became the 102nd player in MLB history to reach 2,500 career hits—his milestone also made him the only active major leaguer in that 2,500-hit club.
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The Dodgers’ career-milestone toast ritual began in 2024 and was prompted by veteran infielder Miguel Rojas, with the club gathering for post-game champagne celebrations for achievements such as 10 years of service, 1,000 hits, 100 wins, and more.
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Roberts specifically framed Freeman’s next step as a challenge to hit 500 more—saying, “It’s a tall order, but I’m not gonna bet against him,” while also noting that celebrating grind-and-longevity moments is part of how the team approaches the season.
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Freeman’s outlook shifted after his April fatherhood update: with Chelsea, he welcomed his fourth child and first daughter, London Rosemary Joy, and he joked earlier this spring that “Father Time is going to catch up.”
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On the field, Freeman’s milestone hit came on an RBI single off Pirates rookie Brandan Bidois in the seventh inning, extending LA’s scoring stretch—he also finished 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, two runs, and an RBI; the win pushed the Dodgers to 43-24 and the top spot in the NL West.
Freddie Freeman lined an RBI single off Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Brandan Bidois in the seventh inning Tuesday night, recording his 2,500th career hit as the Los Angeles Dodgers rolled to a 12-3 win at PNC Park MLB.com. The milestone made Freeman the 102nd player in MLB history to reach 2,500 hits — and the only active major leaguer in that club.
The hit landed during a 10-run seventh inning that blew the game open. Freeman finished 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. The win pushed Los Angeles to 43-24 and first place in the NL West DodgerBlue.com.
A Clubhouse Toast Built for Moments Like This
After the final out, manager Dave Roberts led the team in a champagne toast — a ritual the Dodgers have kept since 2024 DodgerBlue.com. Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas started the tradition to make the long 162-game season feel meaningful. The club now marks service milestones, 1,000 hits, and 100 wins with formal speeches and celebrations.
Freeman said the ritual changed how he sees these moments. "If you would have asked me 10 years ago, I probably would have brushed it off and kept going," he said, according to Los Angeles Times. "But to step back and realize how long you have to play at a high level... it does mean a lot."
Roberts Sets 3,000 Hits as Freeman's Next Target
Roberts wasted no time pointing toward the next number. "It's a tall order, but I'm not gonna bet against him," he said, according to DodgerBlue.com. Only 33 players in baseball history have reached 3,000 hits. Freeman would need 500 more — likely requiring him to play through 2029 or 2030, well past his current contract, which runs through 2027.
Freeman is also the first player to reach 2,500 hits since Robinson Cano did it in 2019, according to LA Sports Report. His numbers remain elite at 36. FanGraphs data shows his expected batting average still ranks in the top 10% of the league, suggesting his swing has aged unusually well.
New Daughter Adds Tension to the 3,000-Hit Chase
Freeman's path to 3,000 is not just a baseball question. In April, he and his wife Chelsea welcomed their fourth child and first daughter, London Rosemary Joy Dodgers Nation. Freeman took paternity leave and came back with a different outlook. He joked this spring that "Father Time is going to catch up" — a shift from earlier plans to play until roughly age 40.
Freeman described "conflicting feelings" about chasing 3,000 Los Angeles Times. He wants the milestone. But getting there likely means three to four more years away from his growing family. If he retires after his contract ends in 2027, he could finish somewhere between 2,750 and 2,800 hits — short of the mark but still among the best of his generation.
17 Seasons of Consistency Point Toward Cooperstown
Freeman's 2,500 hits span 17 seasons — 12 with the Atlanta Braves and five with the Dodgers, whom he joined in 2022 on a six-year, $162 million deal Wikipedia. He leads all active players in career runs scored (1,412), doubles (562), and RBIs (1,357). He is a nine-time All-Star and a World Series MVP.
Los Angeles Times writer Maddie Lee noted that the milestone likely locks in Freeman's first-ballot Hall of Fame status. Rojas and Shohei Ohtani were the first to congratulate him on the field after the hit, according to DodgerBlue.com — a small moment that captured how central Freeman has become to one of baseball's most star-studded rosters.
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