There’s A Hug Awaiting At Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman First Base


ATLANTA – Longtime Atlanta star Freddie Freeman, the reigning winner of the National League Most Valuable Player Award, wants you to have a good time when you visit his home.

He wants you to be welcome, even if you are on the other side. He can compliment you. It can make you laugh. Can lend a supportive ear or make a few suggestions. But you can’t take off your shoes and put your feet up because of course this isn’t his real home. His most visited home, first base, on the field in the last 11 major league seasons.

Freeman recently said, “It doesn’t matter if it’s the biggest game in the world, if you take a base kick and you get first base, I’ll say to you, ‘Good job, good kick’.”

“I’m just that. I know how hard this game is. I know how hard it is to hit the floor in a major league baseball game. Even if you get your team up 5-4 at the start of the ninth inning, I’m going to come and kick you in the foot and say, ‘This is the way to rock it.'”

Since Hall of Famer Chipper Jones retired in 2012, Freeman has been the face of the Atlanta franchise. He was part of the playoff teams in 2010, 2012 and 2013. He signed an eight-year, $135 million extension prior to the 2014 season, guiding the team through the years of lean restructuring. The five-time All-Star, Freeman has remained a steady force as Atlanta re-entered contention with four National League East division titles from 2018 to this season. And on Friday, he will guide them again as they take on the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League division series in the first step of Atlanta’s quest to claim their first title since 1995.

According to his team, the 32-year-old Freeman is a strong left-handed hitter who keeps the Atlanta roster (he’s got .300 or better in six seasons and 20 home runs or more in eight seasons), playing every day (he just missed). Six of Atlanta’s 545 games in the last four seasons) and respected, smiling, hug leader in clubhouse. Even his opponents think the same about him because of how he treats Freeman when they visit him on the field.

“He’s an opponent, but he also appreciates the game,” said Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo. friend and for a long time rival From his time with the Chicago Cubs. “It’s not easy to be successful in this league and it’s good sportsmanship to congratulate guys when they succeed. And they always seem to be having a good time.”

While some first goalkeepers are quieter, Freeman is talkative, playful and observant. He makes sure to compliment his opponents for their minor achievements and notable achievements. He remembers how nervous he was in his first major league game on September 1, 2010, so he notices who played his first game and congratulates him.

“There’s no one in the league who doesn’t love Freddie Freeman,” said Miguel Rojas, the Miami Marlins shortstop and frequent Freeman rival for sharing the same division. Mets outfielder Kevin Pillar added: “Part of being a first baseman is that you have to be a bit of an extrovert, and you can tell the mood of most first basemen by looking at their previous kicks or how they are doing. Not Freddie.”

When Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm left his first away career behind last season, Freeman later recalled that game and praised him. Freeman said that sometimes he was surprised by his opponents’ compliments, even for casual kicks, but quickly realized why he gave it to them.

“It’s fun and it’s a game,” Freeman said. “I know we’re trying to beat each other – believe me, just because I say ‘good job’ doesn’t mean I didn’t try to beat you. I know I’ve been in this game for a long time so I want you to enjoy it too. The game is very difficult and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves.”

In August, the Cincinnati Reds were visiting Truist Park in Atlanta, and Atlanta rookie fielder Tyler Stephenson was playing at home for the first time in his career. Although Stephenson didn’t take a hit in his first two games, he got to the bottom with a walk and a mistake. Still, Stephenson’s family and friends applauded, and Freeman noticed. At first, Freeman gave some encouragement.

“Really think about what happens when you get a hit,” I said. I hope you get a hit,” he said. “The next day he takes three hits and hits a homer, and I said to him, ‘No. he. I don’t need you to do this.’ I just wanted him to take a hit because they were going crazy before he even got a hit.’”

Freeman said that roughly once or twice every game, an opposing player will ask him for batting advice. When Atlanta was in San Diego late last month, Padres second baseman Adam Frazier, who was an All-Star with Pittsburgh this season, wanted to talk about his pitching approaches.

“Oh, I’ll be giving kick tips all day long,” he said. “I want people to be successful. I never want anyone to fail.”

Older generations of players would probably shy away from this – Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson was notorious for hating being friends with his opponents. But Freeman said the game has changed for good reason.

Freeman sees all his opponents as part of a larger baseball family. He is close friends with many people. They usually share the same agency or live close to each other in the off-season or become mutual friends or teammates one day. And speaking of hitting the base roads, he said maybe he could learn a thing or two from them.

“If you’re not trying to learn in this game, you’ll be in the swamp,” he said, and later added, “If you’re doing something in your approach or plan that can click for me. and unlock something, why wouldn’t I want to hear it? When you are enlisted, you are not forced to be the enemy.”

Freeman doesn’t just help his opponents. Sometimes he just shares a laugh or toys with them.

While pitcher Julio Teheran was with Atlanta, Freeman said he tried to chat with rival base runners he didn’t know well and distract them enough to let Tehran take them in the first stage.

Recently captured cameras Freeman and the Mets superstar pitcher Jacob deGrom making fun of each other during games. (Freeman said they’ve been doing this for at least four years.) On days when DeGrom isn’t shooting, he signals Freeman from the bunker at first base and tells him where to stand like a coach – but on the same team.

“He’s going to rush to me and say things like that,” Freeman said. “As long as it’s not too challenging, I’ll do it. I think he likes to say to people in the shelter, ‘Look what I’m doing’.”

The two have grown closer over the years, with Freeman and deGrom texting and video calling each other. Freeman said he didn’t do anything against deGrom on the field, but said, “I’m making fun of him because cannot stay healthy.

Even as Freeman started the 2021 season slowly, his opponents said he remained the same. With a hot summer, he finished the regular season with 31 infields and 83 runs with .300 hits. He hit .341 with 13 home runs when he won the 2020 NLMVP in a 60-game season shortened by the pandemic.

This season, however, is the final season on Freeman’s contract. He said he was “shocked” over the weekend that he was approaching free agency without a new deal, especially since both parties had expressed interest in staying together.

Team managers demolished the roster, with short-back Dansby Swanson, second baseman Ozzie Albies, and outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. While rebuilding with young candidates, Freeman believed in his plans. As these players became stars, more emerged (like pitcher Max Fried and third baseman Austin Riley) and Atlanta won, wanting nothing more than to remain the happy joker in first base.

“Unfortunately it’s a job and I’m 32 and they have to weigh that up,” he said. “But as long as I keep playing well, that’s the case. This band we have here and how good and how good it has continued to be, how come you don’t want to be a part of it?”



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