Freddie Freeman owns the 2020s: The Dodgers star caps his incredible five-year career as World Series MVP

Dodgers star Freddie Freeman has had a long journey over the past five years, leading to his second championship (with two different teams) and a World Series MVP award in 2024.

By certain measures, like consistency and accolades, you could say the 2020s belong to Freeman.

No, he wasn't the most dominant player. Yankees slugger Aaron Judge had 62- and 58-homer seasons. The Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. had a 40-70 season and Freeman's teammate Shohei Ohtani made history with an improbable 50-50 season.

But you might be shocked to learn that Freeman is the answer to the following questions:

• Who is the only player with multiple rings and a league MVP in the 2020s?
• Who is the only player with a .300/.400/.500 slash line in the 2020s?
• Who leads the majors in hits in the 2020s?

Yes, it's all Freddie.

It was an incredible stretch for one of baseball's greatest players, capped by a legacy-defining and history-making 2024 World Series.

Perhaps no one in baseball has evolved as much as Freeman this decade, as he has become beloved for his play on the field and his reputation off the field.

2020: The stretch started off on a down note when Freeman was diagnosed with COVID-19 before the season, but things picked up after that. Freeman was named NL MVP in the 60-game season, the first Atlanta player to win the award since Chipper Jones in 1999.

2021: The Braves won the 2021 World Series in six games against the Astros, with Freeman fittingly recording the final putout. He had great success throughout the postseason, including a game-winning home run in the eighth inning against Josh Hader in the NLDS. This year, he hit the go-ahead home run in all three series in potential game-winners.

2022: Freeman signed with the Dodgers after contract negotiations with the Braves failed. “If we’re being honest, I didn’t think I would ever get a free hand.” Freeman said when the Dodgers introduced him. On April 18, he hit a home run in his first at-bat against his former team. Two months later, he fought back tears at a news conference upon his return to Atlanta. He also became emotional while addressing the crowd before the game. Freeman led the majors with 199 hits in his first season with the Dodgers.

2023: He broke the Dodgers' franchise record for doubles in a season (59) and became the only first baseman in MLB history with 20 home runs, 20 stolen bases and 200 hits in a season.

2024: He missed time over the summer when his three-year-old son, Maximus, was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. In the final game of the regular season, he recovered from a severe ankle sprain and finished with a historic performance to become World Series MVP. He became the first player to hit a home run in Games 1 through 4 of a World Series, hit the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history, and set a World Series record with 12 RBI (Bobby Richardson).

Freddie Freeman in the 2020s

He may not reach video game numbers or have the same incredible raw power or blazing speed as some of baseball's other superstars, but his production is also among the best in the league during that span.

He is fourth in Fangraphs WAR in the 2020s (26.4) behind Aaron Judge (33.4), Juan Soto (27.1) and Jose Ramirez (26.6).

He is sixth in weighted runs plus (wRC+) created this decade (152), behind Aaron Judge (187), Yordan Alvarez (165), Juan Soto (164), Mike Trout (160) and Shohei Ohtani (158).

He has the most postseason home runs in the 2020s (eight) and the most grand slams (eight) between the regular season and the postseason.

This included one of the most legendary home runs in baseball history. His response about his father after hitting the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history was another remarkable display of character.

It was the defining moment of the series and a Hall of Fame career. This capped an impressive five-year success story of knocking on Cooperstown's door.

He is now one of four first basemen ever with 2,000 hits, 300 home runs, two rings and a league MVP. The others? Jimmy Foxx. Lou Gehrig. Albert Pujols.

He is the first former league MVP to win a World Series MVP since Reggie Jackson in 1977 and one of four players to win a league MVP and a World Series MVP in his 30s, along with Willie Stargell, Pete Rose and Frank Robinson.

So take a bow, Freddie, the 2020s have been yours so far.