Freddie Freeman begins ‘new chapter’ in his first spring training game with Dodgers

Tuesday wasn’t the primary time Dave Roberts wrote Freddie Freeman’s identify right into a lineup card.

“I’ve run that train out many occasions,” the Dodgers supervisor mentioned with a smile.

But it surely was the primary time Freeman took the sector for the staff, making his spring debut within the Dodgers’ 10-8 loss in opposition to the Cincinnati Reds at Camelback Ranch.

Freeman went one for 2 whereas batting third — Roberts mentioned he envisions Freeman batting both second or third this season — and slapped a first-inning single the opposite strategy to left area after being serenaded with chants of “Freddie! Freddie!” by the gang.

“Often Dodger followers aren’t chanting my identify,” joked Freeman, the previous Atlanta Braves star who finalized a six-year, $162-million contract with the Dodgers on Friday. “It was good to get again on the market.”

Freeman had eight members of the family in attendance throughout the sport and mentioned many extra shall be driving out from Southern California to see the Orange County native this weekend.

“Simple drive now to get to spring coaching,” he mentioned.

It’s been one of many many adjustments over the past week for Freeman, who laughed when later requested whether or not something has felt regular whereas adjusting to his new staff.

“To be sincere, no,” he mentioned. “It’s my first Arizona spring coaching. So there’s making an attempt to discover ways to get to the sector on daily basis with out my GPS. Every little thing’s simply new. However what an important group. They’ve been very welcoming and let me get my bearings right here and it’s been an important 5 days thus far.”

Roberts believes Freeman, who had beforehand spent his whole skilled profession with the Braves after being drafted out of Orange El Modena Excessive in 2007, is getting comfy together with his new environment, too.

“I do imagine there’s a heavy coronary heart in there, lots of feelings [when] you’re with a staff for 15 years,” Roberts mentioned. “I feel he’s nonetheless making an attempt to sift by these feelings. However I do know he’s joyful to be right here. The blokes are joyful. And every day will get a bit of bit simpler for him.”

With most of his first-week obligations out of the best way, Freeman’s consideration is popping towards the beginning of the season. He mentioned he doesn’t really feel his sport is behind proper now, regardless of the delayed begin to spring coaching. He additionally desires to play often over the remainder of spring camp after getting in 4 innings on Tuesday.

“I’ve been getting as a lot work as I can on the again fields however nothing’s like a sport,” mentioned Freeman, who beat out a possible double-play grounder in his second at-bat. “So it was good to get a few ABs.”

After getting dressed and strolling out of the clubhouse following his exit from the sport, Freeman returned to the huge blue-colored room accompanied by his 5-year-old son, Charlie, exhibiting his eldest son round his dad’s new residence.

“This was a superb day,” Freeman mentioned, including: “It’s a brand new chapter.”

Buehler increase

Walker Buehler didn’t have a traditional first begin of the spring.

As a substitute of a typical transient Cactus League debut, Buehler threw 53 pitches in a pointy 4 ⅔-innings outing, displaying a degree of stamina many different pitchers are nonetheless making an attempt to construct as much as following the league’s offseason lockout.

“That was most likely extra innings than I’ve thrown in spring coaching ever in at some point,” mentioned Buehler, who struck out 5 and gave up two runs on 5 hits. “However we gotta prepare for the primary week and work by some issues.”

It was a promising first step for Buehler, who threw a career-high 207 ⅔ innings final season whereas making a serious league-most 33 begins. He additionally made 4 postseason begins, together with two on quick relaxation for the primary time in his profession.

Following the yr, Buehler mentioned he “took a bit of bit longer off” earlier than starting his preparation for this season in mid-December.

“I feel most likely the primary time I moved it was on my honeymoon,” mentioned Buehler, who bought married in December. “I threw some weighted balls in St. Lucia and bought again after it as soon as we bought residence.”

Throughout the lockout, nevertheless, Buehler started to construct up. He got here to Phoenix in February to coach at a efficiency middle, and began going through hitters shortly after. Buehler is on observe to be stretched out as a lot as he usually would to start a season.

“Not less than for me, I don’t need to throw three or 4 innings,” he mentioned. “I’d like to have the ability to make a full begin.”

Brief hops

The Dodgers signed veteran outfielder Kevin Pillar on Tuesday to a minor league deal (with a giant league spring coaching invitation) that can reportedly be price $2.5 million if he makes the MLB staff. … The Dodgers may have no arbitration hearings this yr, after agreeing to one-year contracts with Trea Turner for $21 million, Julio Urías for $8 million and Caleb Ferguson for $762,500, in accordance with folks with data of the state of affairs. … Infielder Hanser Alberto was at Dodgers camp Tuesday, although his signing has but to be formally introduced. Alberto mentioned on Twitter this week he had been delayed due to visa points.