Freeman: 'There's no sugar-coating' how horrible I've been

Just when Freddie Freeman felt like he was getting out of a hitting funk, the Atlanta Braves first baseman has fallen back into a slump amid the worst offensive year of his career thus far.

"I've had a pretty horrible season so far. There's no sugar-coating it, I'm just not getting hits," Freeman explained to David O'Brien of AJC.com. "The hits I do get are obviously not with guys in scoring position, but obviously that needs to change. If it doesn't happen soon ... I'm already getting frustrated. Usually my track record's pretty good with guys on base."

Freeman is 2-for-18 over the last week, including a .135 season average with runners in scoring position; a spot he was so clutch in during 2015 when he hit .376.

"I guess it's back down into a valley," he said of being on the wrong side of hitting. "That's just the way this season's going. I feel good up there, just nothing's working, nothing's falling. I had a good three-week stretch there, now I'm back down for some reason.

"I feel good, I’m not doing anything different. There’s nothing I can really do but keep going out there and swinging."

Despite his struggles, the normally powerful Freeman is still responsible for eight of Atlanta's league-worst 19 home runs, but has just 15 RBIs for his club; a number he hopes to improve upon with better production while runners are on base.

"Obviously the first 40 games haven't turned out the way I wanted them to," Freeman said. "Hopefully the next 120 I'll start getting some hits with runners in scoring position. I'd rather be 1-for-4 with two RBIs than 3-for-4 and get out with a guy in scoring position ... I feel good, I'm the same, my batting practice is great, everything's great. I'm just not getting hits."