Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman on winning, aging and being mad about batting average: a Q&A

LOS ANGELES — There was a time when the considered Freddie Freeman in something however an Atlanta Braves uniform was unfathomable. Now, it is not possible to think about the Los Angeles Dodgers with out him.

They wouldn’t be back-to-back World Series winners with out Freeman, whose heroic walk-off efforts in every of the previous two championships can be etched in Dodgers lore. But Freeman has by no means been one to take the highlight, solely share it.

Despite his probably Hall of Fame credentials, Freeman is not happy. There is a lot he desires to show as he enters his age-37 season. In a one-on-one interview with TheAthletic That spanned practically half-hour, Freeman opened up about what makes him tick, why his play has gotten higher with age, how he is modified since signing with the Dodgers and why he desires to complete his profession in Los Angeles — however must earn it.

Note: Questions and solutions have been edited for size and readability.

You’re coming into your seventeenth MLB season. What about this season feels totally different?

I feel each season feels a little totally different. But I feel whenever you do win back-to-back, there’s simply a large bull’s-eye on your again. When you place on this uniform, there’s an expectation to win. And we embrace that, we like it. When you may have that expectation, meaning one thing good goes on round right here.

To be a part of a corporation that expects to win, that wishes to win each single 12 months, as you grow old and play longer, that is what you wish to be a a part of. You see guys eager to be a a part of this group, and after they get right here, they see how particular it’s, how onerous everybody works. They wish to maintain placing banners up each single 12 months.

Along these traces, the final two years have clearly resulted in back-to-back World Series championships. But it appears there’s disappointment about your employees on-field manufacturing. Is that honest to say?

When you look again on the final couple of years, if I do not hit .300, I really feel like I’ve had a down 12 months. I feel the media does wish to play into that. I’ve had individuals inform me in spring coaching that I’m coming off a down 12 months, and I’d say, “Oh, I thought an .870 OPS was OK.”

But that is the factor. It’s not what individuals are used to, however it’s nonetheless good. And after they inform me that, I respect it as a result of meaning they’ve actually excessive requirements. And I’ve excessive requirements for myself. Have I performed like I wished to final 12 months? I imply, I throw 2024 out, simply due to the non-public facet of every thing that was going on. I used to be enjoying fairly properly until my son got sickand then I could not even inform you what occurred when Max did get sick. I used to be simply out right here being a physique. I wasn’t actually right here, however we had been simply attempting to grind out 2024, and then I bought damage. So, I throw 2024 out. I used to be simply joyful I used to be in a position to get by means of it and that Max is OK.

People nonetheless ask you about batting common?

Last 12 months, I got here in third in (National League) batting common. When I get requested that query, I chuckle like, “Gosh, they expect really high out of me,” and I really like that. In my eyes, I wish to hit .300 yearly. I do know batting common has sort of gone out the window. It’s probably not harped on a lot in at this time’s sport. But for me, enjoying day by day, if I hit .300 and the way in which I stroll, meaning I’m getting on a lot foundation and I’m serving to the staff. That’s how I see issues. I wish to hit. I wish to be a hitter. If I had been to go 1-for-4 with a dwelling run in a sport, individuals who know me are going to know I’m not joyful about it. I’d reasonably get three hits on three singles. That’s simply who I’m. But if final 12 months was a down 12 months, hopefully I’ll play as much as par with what individuals need me to play like this 12 months.

You are somebody rational about the numbers you put up and the profession you’ve got established. But it additionally looks like you are by no means happy. How troublesome is that to handle?

Well, in 2023, I hit .331, and you possibly can ask my spouse, I used to be nonetheless mad. She’ll inform you I used to be upset as a result of I ought to have hit .340. If I hit .340, I’m upset as a result of I ought to have hit .350. Unfortunately, in my mind and how I work, everybody says oh that is why who you’re, however it’s often by no means ok for me. It’s a blessing and a curse.

Obviously, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve appreciated what I’ve completed within the sport a lot extra. But if I had been to hit .310 this 12 months, I’ll inform you in spring coaching subsequent 12 months that I ought to have hit .320. That’s simply how I’m wired. Unfortunately, I feel for individuals very near me, I’m simply actually onerous on myself. That’s simply how I’m. I do not know if that is what drives me; I do not ever strive and put a thumb on it.

When you speak about it out loud, it sounds sort of loopy. Until the cleats are off, I’ll assume I’ll have by no means totally lived as much as what I ought to have completed. But as I’ve gotten older and individuals begin speaking about the profession numbers that I’ve achieved already, I do respect what I’ve completed on this sport. That’s not ever misplaced on me. But sure, I’m very onerous on myself.

This can be your fifth season in Los Angeles. How do you are feeling you’ve got modified as each a participant and a individual out of your time in Atlanta?

The participant, I feel, is similar. I performed very well right here in these 4 years. I feel it is extra of the individual. I’ve gone by means of a lot in my life, beginning once I was 9 years previous and seeing my mother get sick. I’ve seen a lot of onerous stuff, and I’ve been by means of a lot. Even coming right here was onerous. I feel as a individual, it is simply actually made me decelerate and see issues larger as an alternative of being so near what I’m attempting to do. Now, I attempt to open up and see everybody and simply respect issues.

Life is difficult. You do not know what individuals are going by means of. My life has been on the market, however there are nonetheless so many issues that aren’t on the market which have been extraordinarily onerous for Chelsea and me within the background. What’s modified as I’ve gotten older is that you simply achieve expertise and knowledge. You study the place you possibly can assist individuals. I’ve gone by means of every thing in life, so I will help my youngsters and different individuals in the event that they ever should undergo what I’ve gone by means of personally and professionally. I at all times see issues like “OK, I was supposed to go through this. This is something that’s going to help someone later in life, where I’m going to be able to share that experience.”

And that is what’s actually modified me as a individual.

How did you deal with it earlier than?

When I used to be youthful, I used to be simply so centered on baseball. Blinders on, nothing else issues on this world. Then, as you grow old, there’s a lot extra. This is a deal with, it truly is. It’s enjoyable to return to the job each single day. But there’s a lot extra exterior the traces. I by no means thought I used to be going to depart Atlanta, however you then’re right here, and you meet so many of those fantastic individuals, and life adjustments for the higher.

I’m wondering if that is associated: In every of your final 4 seasons, you’ve got been an All-Star. While many of the stars typically hit their stride of their 20s, you can also make the argument that you’ve got hit yours in your 30s. Do you are feeling like, as you’ve got matured, it is helped you unlock even higher baseball?

I’ve been requested why my 30s have been totally different than my 20s. I’ve at all times stated, as soon as I had youngsters, in the event you take a look at my profession numbers previous to (first youngster) Charlie, I used to be simply so centered on being the very best baseball participant, which typically will be hurtful. Nothing is ever ok. But you then’re having your first youngster and your perspective adjustments.

I’m additionally very cussed about my routine, my method, my plan. If I am going 1-for-20, you are not going to see me do something totally different, besides perhaps take my second spherical of batting follow exterior. But I by no means change. It’s the identical routine.

I’m by no means trying to find one thing, and I feel that is the place if guys go 1-for-15 and you begin tinkering together with your swing, then that is going to take a week or two to really feel good with that. I belief myself and whoever I really like as a participant to know I’ll come out of it.

As I’ve gotten older, it is simply simpler for me to let the 0-fers go and focus on the following day.

You have two years remaining on your contract. You’ve stated you wish to play till age 40. That would require an extension. Would you like to complete your profession as a Dodger?

I’d love to remain right here. Obviously, I’m from Southern California. My dad will get to see me play at any time when he feels prefer it. My grandfather, who’s 90, will get to return and see me play. I’ve everybody right here in Orange County, 40 minutes from this stadium, aside from my older brother.

When you come right here, you are a part of a place the place they only wish to win. As you grow old, you notice that nothing else issues apart from championship winnings. When you are a part of a staff, you simply wish to win. To be a part of a group that from possession to entrance workplace to coaches, everyone seems to be pulling on the identical rope. It’s superb, it truly is. And the followers, they’re spending their hard-earned cash coming right here, and they see possession and the entrance workplace placing it proper again into the fellows. It’s enjoyable to be a a part of this.

But additionally, I perceive that if I’m not ok and they do not need me right here, I’m OK with that. I get it. And that is the factor — I’d love to remain right here, however I would not wish to be right here if I’m hindering issues. Andrew (Friedman) and everybody is aware of that I really like being right here and wish to be right here the following 4 years. But I’m additionally not one to go as much as him and say, “I want to stay.” I’ll let it occur organically.

I do assume that is a large 12 months. It’s my first wholesome offseason in a couple of years. If I can play good protection at first base, that can clearly assist. I do not wish to be some place over at first base and not be capable to transfer, or the place the staff would not really feel snug with you on the market. So sure, I’d love to remain, however I’m not blind to the truth that I have to be a good baseball participant.

The objective for this 12 months is so simple as it will get: win the World Series for the third straight 12 months. What about the clubhouse culture helps with that?

That’s the factor. We have the best baseball participant to ever dwell in our clubhouse, and proper when (Shohei Ohtani) walks by means of the doorways, the identify on the again is gone, utterly. That’s what’s so lovely about right here. Our total lineup is All-Stars. Our entire beginning employees is both Cy Young winners or could-be Cy Young winners. Our bullpen has relievers of the 12 months, up and down. And whenever you stroll by means of that clubhouse door, it would not matter who you’re; it is what can we do to win a baseball sport for the Dodgers?

If you may have egos, that is solely going to complicate issues. It’s a testomony to Andrew and Brandon Gomes to exit and discover the appropriate guys who will match into the puzzle. You can have superstars and typically you do not get alongside. But whenever you see everybody right here, proper whenever you get to the doorways, it simply drops.

We have created a lovely factor round right here. It’s enjoyable to be a a part of it. Young guys see it, and it makes them higher. The subsequent technology of Dodger baseball that we get to observe goes to be even higher than ours.