Former MLB player believes Freddie Freeman excels on both sides of the ball: "Beat you so many ways at the plate and has a Gold Glove on the mantle"

Freddie Freeman is one of the best players in baseball. He's arguably the best first baseman and one of the best players in the Los Angeles Dodgers' juggernaut. He's also one of the most well-rounded in all of baseball.

Most players are elite either offensively or defensively, but rarely both. Freeman is a rare player who excels on both ends and has for a long time.

.@FreddieFreeman5 can beat you so many ways at the plate 𝒂𝒏𝒅 has a Gold Glove on the mantel.

@Xavier_Scruggs dives into what makes the @Dodgers first baseman one of the best players in the game. #MLBTonight https://t.co/8FRexhufXt

Former MLB player Xavier Scruggs knows this. He said:

"He uses the whole field better than most guys in the game. That's what gives him the advantage is pitchers don't know how to attack him a lot of the time cause he can go opposite field, he can go pull side. It doesn't matter where the ball is pitched, he's able to hit line drives all over the field."

He continued praising Freeman:

"I love when guys are in scoring position, he knows how to go to the opposite field, line drives all day, just looking to drive the guys in... Doesn't matter if there's a shift on, he knows how to beat the shift."

Despite all the offensive abilities, Freeman doesn't lack for defense, either:

"And then look at defensively, one of the more athletic guys that we see at first base, knows how to handle the glove. He can go get it with the best of them. The leadership factor, that's going to be huge this year. There's some guys that will have some question marks as far as this infield, but he will not be the question mark."

He also added:

"Freddie Freeman can beat you so many ways at the plate and has a Gold Glove on the mantle."

Freeman will have his work cut out for him this year as the Dodgers do not have as much depth as they did last year, and other NL teams have loaded up. If anyone's cut out for that, it's the superstar first baseman.

Freddie Freeman should have another MVP caliber year

Freddie Freeman was excellent in his first season with the Dodgers, recording a 157 wRC+ and a 7.1 fWAR.

Expect more of the same in 2023, with the projections believing he is going to have over 5.4 fWAR and about a 150 wRC+ in year two.