Freddie Freeman is entering his 10th All-Star Game and he’s not messing around. But even a first-ballot Hall of Fame type like him has some limits. And he knows it.
The Dodgers first baseman sat down for media availability Monday ahead of Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia. The conversation eventually turned to which All-Star’s skillset he’d steal for himself. Shohei Ohtani’s power felt like the obvious answer. But Freeman didn’t go there.
“His speed cause I’m not fast,” Freeman said with a smile.
He was talking about Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Chicago Cubs outfielder is built for track meets. At 6-foot and 184 pounds, he glides around the outfield and on the basepaths like a slot receiver in the NFL. And growing up in Sherman Oaks, he’s got some local ties to the Dodgers organization too.
Freeman isn’t kidding about his own lack of speed. Father time is a thing, even for a World Series winner. That said, he made a play on June 27 that had everyone talking. It was a leap-and-toss to Mookie Betts that turned a double play and reminded everyone he still has some tricks left.
This year’s All-Star Game features a bunch of Dodgers. LA manager Dave Roberts is running the show as skipper. And the team gets two fresh faces on this stage. Justin Wrobleski makes his All-Star debut. So does Andy Pages, who missed the cut in each of the last two seasons but finally gets his shot.
Freeman takes this whole week seriously. He’s been around long enough to know not to take it for granted. But if there’s one thing he’d borrow from the younger generation, it’s that explosive first step Crow-Armstrong has. The rest of his game is already pretty much Hall of Fame worthy anyway.
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