In expected batting average, much like his hard hit numbers, Freeman set career highs in his previous two seasons played with a .343 XBA in 2020 and a .320 XBA in 2021.
In expected weighted on-base average, he went for two of his top three averages in his career with a .466 in 2020 and .416 in 2021.
And for expected slugging percentage, we see the exact same thing where he set two of his top three percentages in 2020 and 2021 by going for .663 in ’20 and .583 in ’21.
Freeman is making more contact, getting on base more, hitting the ball harder, and turning that solid contact into tangible run production better than he has in years past outside of a few pieces of anecdotal evidence.
This is a player at the top of his game who can even take it further in the coming years. If he were to regress in any sort of way, it would be statistically irregular by virtually every metric out there.
That is why the Braves’ hesitancy to lock him up baffles the mind.
Hopefully, a very well-run team in the Braves will pull a contract out at the last second and keep the face of its franchise in Atlanta for the rest of his career. The number certainly say the risk is worth it.