Dodgers' Freddie Freeman Hitting Well Despite Low Batting Average

Freeman's expected batting average is .449, showing he's making quality contact despite his .250 start.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 5:52pm

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Freddie Freeman, the superstar first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is off to a slow start at the plate this season, batting just .250. However, advanced metrics show he's actually hitting the ball extremely well, with an expected batting average of .449 and an expected slugging percentage of .943 based on the quality of his contact.

Why it matters

Freeman is a key part of the Dodgers' lineup, and if he can maintain the quality of his at-bats, it's likely his numbers will improve significantly as the season progresses. This early-season data suggests he's poised for a big year once the batted ball luck evens out.

The details

Through the first week of the season, Freeman has put 12 balls in play, barreling three of them. His average exit velocity is 95.9 mph, and his launch angle is 18.9%, putting him in the 'launch angle sweet spot' on half of his batted balls. These advanced metrics indicate Freeman is making excellent contact, even if the results haven't shown up in his .250 batting average and .333 slugging percentage so far.

  • The 2026 MLB season began on March 26.

The players

Freddie Freeman

A superstar first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Los Angeles Dodgers

A Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, California.

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What they’re saying

“Baseball is a funny game, and any numbers like this in a limited data pool can be a bit misleading.”

— Billy Heyen, Author

The takeaway

Despite Freddie Freeman's slow start at the plate, the advanced metrics suggest he's hitting the ball extremely well and is poised for a big season once the batted ball luck evens out. This early-season data is a promising sign for the Dodgers and their star first baseman.