Freddie Freeman facts for kids

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Freddie Freeman

Freeman with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024

Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 5

First baseman

Born: September 12, 1989 (age 35)
Fountain Valley, California, U.S.

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

debut

September 1, 2010, for the Atlanta Braves

MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)

Batting average

.300

Hits

2,267

Home runs

343

Runs batted in

1,232

Teams

Atlanta Braves (2010–2021)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2022–present)

Career highlights and awards

8× All-Star (2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021–2024)
2× World Series champion (2021, 2024)
NL MVP (2020)
World Series MVP (2024)
2× All-MLB First Team (2020, 2023)
3× All-MLB Second Team (2019, 2021, 2022)
Gold Glove Award (2018)
3× Silver Slugger Award (2019–2021)
NL Hank Aaron Award (2020)

Medals

Men's baseball

Representing USA
World Youth Baseball Championship
Silver	2005 Mexico	Team

Frederick Charles Freeman (born September 12, 1989) is a professional baseball player. He plays as a first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball (MLB). Freeman started his MLB career with the Atlanta Braves in 2010. He played for them for 12 seasons.

After the Braves won the 2021 World Series, Freeman became a free agent. He then signed a six-year contract with the Dodgers. He has been an MLB All-Star eight times and a two-time World Series champion. In 2018, he won a Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense. He also won the Silver Slugger Award three times (2019, 2020, 2021). In 2020, he was named the National League's Most Valuable Player. In 2024, he won the World Series MVP award. He set a record by hitting a home run in many World Series games in a row. This included the first ever walk-off grand slam in World Series history.

Freeman also plays for the Canadian national team in international competitions.

Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Frederick Charles Freeman was born on September 12, 1989, in Fountain Valley, California. His parents, Fredrick and Rosemary Freeman, were both from Ontario, Canada. They moved to California for his father's job. Sadly, Rosemary died from melanoma when Freeman was only 10 years old. To honor her, Freeman always wears a long-sleeved shirt during games. He has two older brothers, Andrew and Phillip. Because both his parents were born in Canada, Freeman is a citizen of both Canada and the United States.

Freeman loved the Los Angeles Angels growing up. He started playing Little League baseball at a very young age. At six, he practiced with older kids. By age nine, he was playing with 12-year-olds. He went to El Modena High School. There, he played third baseman and was also a pitcher. In his senior year (2007), he had a great batting average of .417. As a pitcher, he had a 6–1 win–loss record. The Orange County Register newspaper named him their player of the year in 2007. He planned to play college baseball at California State University, Fullerton.

Professional Baseball Career

Starting in the Minor Leagues

The Atlanta Braves picked Freeman in the second round of the 2007 MLB draft. He was the 78th player chosen overall. Freeman decided to sign with the Braves for $409,500, giving up his college scholarship. He began his professional career with the Gulf Coast Braves in 2007. In 2008, he played for the Rome Braves. Before the 2009 season, Baseball America magazine said he was the Braves' fifth-best young player.

Freeman played for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and then the Mississippi Braves in 2009. He also played in the Arizona Fall League after the 2009 season. In 2010, he started with the Gwinnett Braves.

Atlanta Braves Years (2010–2021)

Making His MLB Debut

Freeman was called up to the Braves on September 1, 2010. He made his first MLB appearance that same day. On September 5, 2010, he got his first MLB hit. A few weeks later, on September 21, he hit his first MLB home run. He played 20 games for the Braves that year.

Becoming a Starter

In 2011, Freeman became the Braves' main first baseman. He had a slow start but quickly improved. Many people thought he might win the Rookie of the Year award. On July 4, 2011, he hit two home runs in one game. This was his first time hitting more than one home run in a single game. He was the first Braves rookie since Hank Aaron in 1954 to get 50 RBIs by July 18.

Freeman was named the National League Rookie of the Month for July. He led all rookies in hits, batting average, and on-base percentage that month. He also led NL rookies in home runs and runs scored. His 18 RBIs tied for the most among NL rookies. He finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Consistent Performance

In 2012, Freeman led the National League with nine sacrifice flies. He batted .259 with 33 doubles, 23 home runs, and 94 RBIs. In 2013, he was chosen for the All-Star Game through a fan vote. He won with a record 19.7 million votes. However, he couldn't play due to a thumb injury. He finished the 2013 season with a .319 batting average, 23 home runs, and 109 RBIs. He placed fifth in the National League Most Valuable Player award voting.

Freeman playing for the Braves in 2014

On February 4, 2014, Freeman signed a big eight-year contract extension worth $135 million. He was named an All-Star again in 2014. He played in all 162 games that year. He batted .288 with 43 doubles, 18 home runs, and 78 RBIs.

Dealing with Injuries

In 2015, Freeman had a right wrist injury. This ended his streak of 234 games played in a row, which was the longest in MLB at the time. He missed several games but returned in late July. He finished the season batting .276 with 18 home runs and 66 RBIs in 118 games.

Hitting for the Cycle

In 2016, Freeman had a tough start but improved in June. On June 15, he hit for his first career cycle. This means he hit a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game. He was named National League Player of the Week soon after. He hit 34 home runs that year, his first time reaching 30 homers in a season. He also had a 30-game hitting streak. Overall, he batted .302 with 43 doubles, 34 home runs, and 91 RBIs. He finished sixth in the National League MVP voting.

Freeman in 2019

In 2017, Freeman continued to play well. He was an early candidate for the MVP award, leading the league in home runs with 14. However, on May 17, he was hit by a pitch and broke a bone in his left hand. This kept him out for about 10 weeks. When he returned, he even played third base for a short time. He finished the season batting .307 with 28 home runs and 71 RBIs in 117 games.

Winning a Gold Glove

In 2018, Freeman had LASIK eye surgery to help his vision. He was chosen for his third All-Star Game as the starting first baseman. He also took part in the Home Run Derby. He led the National League with 191 hits that season. He also led the Braves in batting average (.309), doubles (44), and RBIs (98).

Freeman won the Gold Glove for first base in the National League in 2018. This award is given to the best defensive players. Two of his teammates also won Gold Gloves that year, which was a first for the Braves. He also won the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award.

More Awards and MVP Season

In 2019, Freeman was again the National League's starting first baseman in the All-Star Game. He batted .295 with 38 home runs and 121 RBIs. He and two teammates won Silver Slugger Awards, which are given to the best offensive players at each position. Freeman also won the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second year in a row. After the season, he had surgery on his right elbow to remove a bone spur.

2020: National League MVP

In July 2020, before the season began, Freeman tested positive for COVID-19. He had symptoms like a high fever and loss of smell, but he recovered in time for the shortened season. On September 4, he hit his first career grand slam. Two days later, he hit another grand slam! On September 9, he got his 1,500th career hit. In that same game, he drove in six runs, a new personal best.

Freeman finished the 60-game season batting .341 with 13 home runs and 53 RBIs. He led all of MLB with 23 doubles and 51 runs scored. His amazing performance earned him his second Silver Slugger Award. He was named the NL MVP, becoming the first Braves player to win this award since Chipper Jones in 1999. He also won several other major awards, including the Hank Aaron Award.

2021: World Series Champions

Freeman after an at-bat during his final season with the Braves in 2021

Freeman was named the National League's starting first baseman for the 2021 All-Star Game. On August 18, he hit for the cycle again against the Marlins. This was his second career cycle! He finished the 2021 season with a .300 batting average, 31 home runs, and a .896 OPS (On-base plus slugging).

In the playoffs, Freeman hit a game-winning solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers on October 12, 2021. This helped the Braves move on to the next round. The Braves then faced the Houston Astros in the 2021 World Series. Freeman hit a huge home run in Game 5. The Braves won the Series in six games, making Freeman a World Series champion! He made the final out of the Series. He also won his third straight Silver Slugger Award and the Babe Ruth Award.

The 2021 season was the last year of Freeman's contract with the Braves. He had always wanted to stay with the team for his whole career. However, after talks about a new contract didn't work out, the Braves signed another first baseman, Matt Olson. This meant Freeman's time with the Braves was over.

Los Angeles Dodgers (2022–Present)

Other teams wanted Freeman, including the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since he couldn't stay in Atlanta, Freeman decided to return home to Southern California. On March 18, 2022, he signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers.

Joining the Dodgers

Freeman made his Dodgers debut on April 8, 2022. On April 18, he was given his 2021 Silver Slugger Award before a game against the Braves. In that game, he hit his first home run as a Dodger against his old team. On June 24, he received his World Series ring when the Dodgers played the Braves in Atlanta. In 2022, Freeman led MLB with 199 hits and 47 doubles. His batting average was .325, second best in the National League. He also hit 21 home runs and had 100 RBIs.

Setting New Records

On May 18, 2023, Freeman hit his 300th career home run, which was a grand slam. About a month later, he got his 2,000th career hit. This made him the 295th MLB player to reach that milestone. He was named the starting first baseman for the National League in the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game for the third year in a row.

On September 8, Freeman broke a Dodgers franchise record by hitting his 53rd double of the season. On September 22, he got his 200th hit of the season. He became the only first baseman in history to have 20 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and 200 hits in the same season. In 2023, he finished with a .331 batting average, 211 hits, 29 home runs, 102 RBIs, and an MLB-leading 59 doubles. He also had a fantastic .999 fielding percentage at first base.

2024: World Series MVP

In 2024, Freeman hit two more grand slams. He played in 147 games, with 22 home runs, 89 RBIs, and a .282 batting average. He hurt his ankle in September, which affected him during the playoffs.

In Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, even with his injured ankle, Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam. This was the first time a walk-off grand slam had ever happened in a World Series game! He then hit home runs in Games 2, 3, and 4 of the Series. This made him the first player to hit a home run in the first four games of a World Series. He also set a record by hitting a home run in six World Series games in a row. The Dodgers won the Series in five games, and Freeman was named the World Series MVP. After the season, he had surgery on his injured ankle.

International Baseball Career

As a high school student, Freeman played for the United States national baseball team in the 2005 World Youth Baseball Championship in Mexico. His team won the silver medal.

Because his parents are Canadian, Freeman decided to play for the Canadian national team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He had always wanted to do this. He played for Canada again in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Canada finished third in their group, which means they qualified for the next World Baseball Classic.

Player Style and Personality

Freeman's batting stance, 2021.

Freeman's powerful swing is sometimes called "unusual." People have compared it to a tennis forehand. He is also known for his great hand-eye coordination. He can adjust how he bats against different pitchers. He used to wear glasses on the field, which is rare in MLB, before getting LASIK eye surgery.

Freeman is also known for being friendly. He often talks with players from the other team when they are on base. Braves manager Brian Snitker called him "my rock" and said he represents "everything that the Braves stand for." Dodgers manager Dave Roberts described him as "the modern-day Tony Gwynn," who was a famous hitter.

Personal Life

Freeman married Chelsea Goff in 2014. They have three sons. In 2024, Freeman's youngest son, Maximus, was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome, a rare health condition. When Freeman played for the Braves, his family lived in Atlanta during the baseball season and in California during the off-season. After joining the Dodgers, he moved back to Southern California.

In 2014, during a winter storm, Freeman got stuck in a huge traffic jam. His former teammate, Chipper Jones, came to rescue him on his ATV! The Braves even had a "Chipper Rescues Freddie" bobblehead night to celebrate this funny story. Freeman's cousin, Carson Branstine, is a tennis player.