Career Timeline of Freddie Freeman: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Freddie Freeman made an impact.

Freddie Freeman is a distinguished professional baseball first baseman currently playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Before joining the Dodgers, he spent over a decade with the Atlanta Braves, where he established himself as one of the league's most consistent and elite hitters. A multi-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner, Freeman earned the National League MVP award in 2020. His career is highlighted by his pivotal role in leading the Braves to a World Series championship in 2021. Known for his disciplined approach at the plate, defensive reliability, and leadership, he further cemented his legacy by winning the 2024 World Series MVP award with the Dodgers. Freeman is widely regarded as one of the premier offensive players of his generation, consistently maintaining high batting averages and providing clutch performances in postseason play.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1954: Milwaukee Braves Rookie Standing

During the 1954 season, Gene Conley placed third and Hank Aaron placed fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting, marking a rare instance of two teammates from the then-Milwaukee Braves organization finishing in the top five.

1954: Hank Aaron's Rookie RBI Milestone

In 1954, legendary baseball player Hank Aaron achieved the milestone of reaching 50 RBIs as a rookie for the Braves, a feat that would later be matched by Freddie Freeman in 2011.

1989: Chicago Cubs Rookie Achievement

In 1989, Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith of the Chicago Cubs made history by finishing first and second respectively in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.

2007: Selection in the 2007 MLB Draft and Professional Debut

In 2007, Freddie Freeman was drafted by the Atlanta Braves as the 78th overall pick in the second round, signing a contract for $409,500 and skipping college to begin his professional baseball career with the Gulf Coast Braves.

2007: High School Baseball Success and College Commitment

In 2007, during his senior year of high school, Freddie Freeman achieved a .417 batting average and a 6-1 pitching record, leading him to be named the Orange County Register player of the year; additionally, in 2007, he signed a letter of intent to play college baseball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans.

2008: Advancement to Rome Braves

During the 2008 season, Freeman continued his professional development by playing for the Rome Braves, a team competing in the Class A South Atlantic League.

2009: Recognition as a Top Prospect

Prior to the start of the 2009 season, Freeman was recognized as the fifth-best prospect within the Atlanta Braves organization by Baseball America.

September 1, 2010: MLB Debut with the Atlanta Braves

On September 1, 2010, Freddie Freeman was officially called up to the major leagues by the Atlanta Braves, marking his professional debut in MLB.

September 5, 2010: First Career MLB Hit

On September 5, 2010, Freddie Freeman recorded his first-ever hit in Major League Baseball during a game against Florida Marlins pitcher Clay Hensley.

September 21, 2010: First Career MLB Home Run

On September 21, 2010, Freddie Freeman hit his first career home run in the major leagues, successfully connecting off of Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay.

2010: Promotion to Gwinnett Braves

In 2010, Freddie Freeman began his baseball season playing for the Gwinnett Braves, representing the Class AAA International League.

2010: Freeman's 2010 Season Benchmark

In 2010, Freddie Freeman established a baseline for his playing time, as his 2021 season marked the lowest number of games played by him since that year.

2010: MLB Debut with the Atlanta Braves

In 2010, Freddie Freeman officially made his Major League Baseball debut as a member of the Atlanta Braves.

July 4, 2011: First Multi-Home Run Game

On July 4, 2011, Freddie Freeman recorded his first multi-home run game in Major League Baseball while playing against the Colorado Rockies.

2011: 2011 Season Performance Summary

In 2011, Freddie Freeman concluded his season with a .282 batting average, recording 32 doubles, 21 home runs, and 76 RBI across 157 games played.

2012: 2012 MLB Season Performance

During the 2012 season, Freddie Freeman demonstrated significant offensive production, leading the National League with nine sacrifice flies while maintaining a .259 batting average, recording 33 doubles, 23 home runs, and 94 RBI over 147 games.

2013: 2013 All-Star Game Selection and Season Performance

In 2013, Freddie Freeman was selected as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game via the Final Vote, winning with a record 19.7 million fan votes; however, he was sidelined by a thumb injury shortly before the event. He concluded the 2013 season with a .319 batting average, 23 home runs, and 109 RBI, ultimately placing fifth in the National League Most Valuable Player voting.

February 4, 2014: Eight-Year Contract Extension

On February 4, 2014, Freddie Freeman signed a significant eight-year contract extension with his team, valued at $135 million.

June 27, 2014: Home Run against the Phillies

During a game on June 27, 2014, against the Philadelphia Phillies, Freddie Freeman hit a three-run home run off pitcher Kyle Kendrick that was notably caught by broadcaster Tom McCarthy.

2014: Front Office Reorganization

During the 2014-15 off-season, General manager John Coppolella assumed control of team transactions and initiated a significant rebuilding phase for the Braves by trading numerous players.

June 17, 2015: Freeman sidelined by wrist injury

On June 17, 2015, Freddie Freeman was listed as day-to-day after sustaining an injury to his right wrist during a game against the New York Mets on June 13, 2015.

2015: Commitment to Freeman

In the 2015-16 off-season, despite the aggressive rebuilding efforts that saw many teammates traded, General manager John Coppolella publicly committed to keeping Freddie Freeman on the roster.

2016: Breakout Performance and Milestones

Throughout 2016, Freddie Freeman achieved multiple career milestones, including his first cycle on June 15, his 30th home run and 500th RBI on September 13, and a 30-game hitting streak that concluded on September 29. He finished the season with notable stats and earned recognition as the National League Player of the Month for September.

June 2017: Freeman offers to change defensive position

In June 2017, while recovering from a hand injury, Freddie Freeman volunteered to shift from his usual position at first base to third base to accommodate his teammate Matt Adams, who was performing well at the first base position.

2018: Home Run Derby Participation

In 2018, Freddie Freeman accepted an invitation to compete in the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, following his selection as the National League's starting first baseman for his third All-Star game appearance.

2018: 2018 Defensive Awards and MVP Recognition

In 2018, Freddie Freeman earned the Gold Glove Award for first base in the National League, shared with Anthony Rizzo, and received the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award. Furthermore, Freeman finished in fourth place for the 2018 National League Most Valuable Player award voting.

2018: Gold Glove Award win

In 2018, Freddie Freeman earned the prestigious Gold Glove Award for his defensive excellence on the field.

2019: Exceptional 2019 MLB Performance and Awards

During the 2019 season, Freddie Freeman achieved a batting line of .295/.389/.549 with 38 home runs and 121 RBIs, while leading all National League hitters in line drive percentage. In 2019, he also secured the National League Silver Slugger Award for first base and earned the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second year in a row.

2019: Silver Slugger Award win

During the 2019 season, Freddie Freeman was recognized for his offensive performance by winning a Silver Slugger Award.

2019: 2019 MLB All-Star Game Selection

In 2019, Freddie Freeman was selected as the starting first baseman for the National League in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. This selection marked his fourth career appearance in the game and his second time starting consecutively.

2020: Silver Slugger and National League MVP Awards

In 2020, Freddie Freeman achieved significant career milestones by winning his second consecutive Silver Slugger Award and being named the National League's Most Valuable Player.

2021: Third consecutive Silver Slugger Award

Freddie Freeman secured his third consecutive Silver Slugger Award in 2021, highlighting his consistent offensive success.

2021: 2021 World Series Championship and Dodgers Contract

In 2021, Freddie Freeman helped lead the Atlanta Braves to a World Series victory over the Houston Astros, subsequently entering free agency and signing a six-year, $162 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2024: World Series MVP and record-breaking performance

In 2024, Freddie Freeman was named the World Series MVP after setting a record for consecutive World Series games with a home run, an achievement that included hitting the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.