When the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Freddie Freeman to a six-year contract this past March, it marked a homecoming as the 32-year-old was born and raised in Southern California.
Freeman grew up in Orange County and was a fan of the Los Angeles Angels. Despite making his MLB debut in 2010, the five-time All-Star has played only one series at Angel Stadium, which took place during his rookie season.
With the Dodgers now in Anaheim for two final games before the All-Star break, Freeman is looking forward to returning to the ballpark and playing in front of his family, via SportsNet LA:
“I haven’t played in Anaheim since I was a rookie. I broke my wrist in ’17 when I was supposed to play there, and then Spring Training this year, I got sick. So I’m just trying to make it through that series because it feels like there’s a lot of things that doesn’t want me to play 10 minutes from where I grew up. So I’m really looking forward to playing those two games in Anaheim with pretty much everyone that lives in California that’s family of mine is going to be there. So it will be exciting.”
While Freeman expressed a desire to finish his career with the Atlanta Braves before contract negotiations fell apart, he certainly has appreciated being closer to his family this season.
During the Dodgers’ series against the San Diego Padres in April, Freeman had an opportunity to play in front of his father, who sat next to the dugout. They shared a high-five after Freeman homered.
“It was nice. When I went into the dugout and I looked left, I see him sitting there, I was like, oh no,” Freeman said at the time.
“I told Doc, ‘Man, I’ve got to really play well today or my dad is going to be mad, and I’m going to see him mad at me.’ It was nice. Those little moments for my family and I are the things that make it all worth it.”
Freeman trying to capitalize on locked-in feeling
Freeman has been a constant presence at the plate for the Dodgers this year as he enters play Friday batting .320/.398/.522 with 30 doubles, 12 home runs and 56 RBI in 397 plate appearances while starting in all 88 games.
Freeman previously said he hasn’t done anything differently at the plate to increase his production and credits the success to just feeling good and getting into the zone.
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