Freddie Freeman hits emotional home run in “special” first game against Braves
Freddie Freeman discussed his emotions as he faced the Atlanta Braves, where he spent the first 12 seasons of his career.
Freddie Freeman said his emotions were “all over the place” as he hit his first home run for his new club, the Los Angeles Dodgers, against his former team in a 7-4 win against the Atlanta Braves.
Freeman’s homer against Braves
Freeman spent 12 seasons with the Braves, earning five All-Star appearances and an MVP trophy in 2020, and faced them for the first time on Monday since signing a six-year, $162million deal with the Dodgers this past offseason.
In his first at-bat, from just the second pitch he saw, he blasted a home run over the fence at left-center, and later scored a second run when he was brought home by Trea Turner’s base-clearing double in the fourth inning.
“Obviously there’s just a lot of emotion going on right now,” Freeman said afterwards. “But a lot of good emotion.
“I’m just happy to be able to see all the guys. We won a championship together last year, so that’s what we’re all talking about over there.
“I love every single person on [the Braves’] side of that field – but I do hope they don’t do good for these next three games.”
When asked if the game represented some closure for Freeman, he insisted that was not the case.
“I don’t know if any of us are really looking for closure,” he said. “I had a great 12 years; I’m not trying to close anything. I’m just trying to move on, obviously.
“But I had so many great memories with the Braves, with the guys over there. That’s always going to be there, I think.”
He added: “As the game went on, there were a couple smiles here and there from staff members and people I spent a lot of time with.
“It’s just a special day, one I’ll always remember.”