“I don't really change”: Freddie Freeman opens up about fourth slot in the new LA Dodgers lineup order

The Los Angeles Dodgers appear close to settling in on a new-look lineup for 2026, and Freddie Freeman is expected to play a central role, even if it's not in his customary spot. The LA Dodgers Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts recently signaled that offseason acquisition Kyle Tucker is likely to bat second behind Shohei Ohtani, with Freeman slipping into the cleanup position on fourth. This change would move Mookie Betts to third, a position that he has rarely played in his career. For Freeman, the adjustment has less to do with placement and more to do with production.

Freddie Freeman’s position and his thoughts on it

The veteran first baseman said this spring that there is no real difference in his approach wherever he hits. His focus remains on situational hitting, shooting the ball to all fields, and taking advantage of runners in scoring position, duties inherent to being a batting fourth.

Talking about his approach, Freeman told SportsNet LA, "I don't really change. I really don't.” He further added, "I've always loved to be in the middle of the lineup with guys in scoring position. I love when there are guys on base so I can either move them first to third or drive them in. That's what we're trying to do in the middle of the lineup.” When asked about the players going before him, Freeman said, "We've got some great guys at the top that are going to be pushing around .380 to .400 on-base percentage, so there should be a lot of opportunities. You just try to put the ball in play. Being in the four-hole, hopefully there will be a lot of opportunities to cash them in and get some runs on the board for us to win a lot of ballgames."

Freeman has played in four Cactus League games and is looking for about 50 at-bats before Opening Day. The early workload is par for a routine spring build-up for the 36-year-old, who has always been one of the more solid and consistent hitters in the game.

Freddie Freeman's stats make a cleanup job an easy fit

Freeman spent much of his career hitting third, especially during his time with the Atlanta Braves. However, his numbers indicate that he is nearly as comfortable hitting fourth. In almost 200 career games as a cleanup hitter, Freeman has a batting average just below .300 with a on-base percentage of over .360 and a slugging percentage of nearly .500. Last season, he was able to start 47 games in that role and provided steady run production, adding to his value as a heart of the order player.

A former National League MVP and multiple-time All-Star, Freeman has gone over 24 home runs seven times in his career and driven in 90 or more runs eight times. His combination of plate discipline and gap power makes him the perfect link between the Dodgers high on-base hitters and their lower half of the lineup. The decision to restructure the order seems to be based on the principle of balance. Tucker's combination of speed and left-handed bat profile fills the gap at the top with Ohtani, while Freeman's experience serves it in the middle. If this alignment fits, the Dodgers could again have one of the deepest lineups in the league.


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