History of Freddie Freeman in Timeline
Freddie Freeman is a Canadian-American baseball player. He plays first base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, after spending 12 seasons with the Atlanta Braves. He debuted in MLB with the Braves in 2010 and won the 2021 World Series with them.
1929: Breaking the Dodgers Franchise Record for Doubles
In 1929, Johnny Frederick set the Dodgers franchise record for doubles, a record that stood for many years.
1954: Braves Rookies in Top Five
Freddie Freeman and Craig Kimbrel's top-two finish in the NL Rookie of the Year voting was the first time two Braves achieved a top-five finish since 1954, when Gene Conley came in third and Hank Aaron came in fourth.
1954: Reaching 50 RBIs as a Braves Rookie
Freddie Freeman became the first Braves rookie to reach 50 RBIs by July 18 since Hank Aaron achieved this feat in 1954.
September 12, 1989: Birth of Freddie Freeman
Freddie Freeman was born on September 12, 1989.
1989: NL Rookie of the Year Runner-Up
Freddie Freeman finished second to teammate Craig Kimbrel in the NL Rookie of the Year voting, marking the first time since 1989 that teammates finished first and second.
1999: Braves' MVP Drought
The Atlanta Braves had not had a player win the National League MVP award since Chipper Jones in 1999.
2004: 200 Hits in a Season
In 2004, Adrián Beltré achieved a notable feat by recording 200 hits in a single season for the Dodgers.
2005: Andruw Jones Wins Hank Aaron Award
Andruw Jones became the first Atlanta Braves player to receive the Hank Aaron Award in 2005.
2005: World Youth Baseball Championship
In 2005, Freddie Freeman represented the United States in the World Youth Baseball Championship.
2007: Drafted by the Atlanta Braves
Freddie Freeman's professional baseball journey began in 2007 when he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of the MLB draft.
2007: High School Standout and Orange County Register Player of the Year
In 2007, Freddie Freeman excelled as a baseball player at El Modena High School, achieving a .417 batting average and earning the title of Orange County Register Player of the Year.
2008: Playing for the Rome Braves
In 2008, Freddie Freeman continued his development in the minor leagues, playing for the Rome Braves in the Class A South Atlantic League.
August 2009: Wrist Injury
Freddie Freeman experienced a setback in August 2009 when he suffered a wrist injury.
2009: Ranked a Top Prospect by Baseball America
Freddie Freeman's potential was recognized by Baseball America before the 2009 season when he was ranked as the Braves' fifth-best prospect.
September 1, 2010: MLB Debut and First Hit
Freddie Freeman received his first call-up to the major leagues on September 1, 2010, and marked the occasion with his first MLB hit a few days later.
September 5, 2010: First MLB Hit
On September 5, 2010, Freddie Freeman recorded his first MLB hit off Florida Marlins pitcher Clay Hensley.
September 21, 2010: First MLB Home Run
Freddie Freeman hit his first MLB home run on September 21, 2010, off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay.
2010: MLB Debut with the Atlanta Braves
Freddie Freeman made his Major League Baseball debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2010.
2010: Lowest Games Played Since 2010
In 2010, Freddie Freeman played his lowest number of games since beginning his major league career.
2010: Arizona Fall League Experience
Following the 2009 season, Freddie Freeman participated in the Arizona Fall League, further honing his skills.
July 4, 2011: First Multi-Home Run Game
Freddie Freeman achieved his first multi-home run game on July 4, 2011, against the Colorado Rockies.
2011: Shortest Season Since 2011
Due to a wrist injury, Freddie Freeman played in only 118 games in 2015, his shortest season since 2011.
2011: 20-Game Hitting Streak
In 2011, Freddie Freeman had a remarkable 20-game hitting streak, showcasing his consistency at the plate.
2012: Onset of Vision Problems
Freddie Freeman began experiencing vision problems in 2012.
2012: Leading the NL in Sacrifice Flies
Freddie Freeman displayed his selflessness and situational hitting in 2012 by leading the National League in sacrifice flies.
2013: All-Star Final Vote Winner and MVP Consideration
Freddie Freeman's popularity was evident in 2013 when he won the All-Star Final Vote with a record-breaking number of fan votes. Despite being unable to play due to injury, he finished fifth in the NL MVP voting.
February 4, 2014: Eight-Year Contract Extension with the Braves
Freddie Freeman's commitment to the Braves was solidified on February 4, 2014, when he signed an eight-year, $135 million contract extension.
June 27, 2014: Memorable Home Run Caught by Broadcaster
On June 27, 2014, Freddie Freeman hit a three-run home run that was caught by broadcaster Tom McCarthy, creating a unique moment in baseball.
2014: Start of Braves Rebuild
John Coppolella took charge of the Atlanta Braves, marking the beginning of a significant rebuild phase for the team in 2014.
2014: Marriage
In 2014, Freddie Freeman married Chelsea Goff.
2014: Rescue by Chipper Jones
During a winter storm in 2014, Freddie Freeman was stranded in a traffic jam and was rescued by former teammate Chipper Jones.
June 17, 2015: Wrist Injury and End of Consecutive Games Streak
On June 17, 2015, Freddie Freeman's consecutive games played streak, which was the longest in the majors at the time, ended due to a wrist injury.
2015: Wrist Injury and Trade Rumors
Freddie Freeman battled a wrist injury during the 2015 season, casting uncertainty over his future with the Braves as trade rumors circulated.
January 2016: "Chipper Rescues Freddie" Bobblehead Night
In January 2016, the Atlanta Braves announced a "Chipper Rescues Freddie" bobblehead night to commemorate a previous event where Chipper Jones rescued Freeman from a traffic jam.
2016: Breakthrough Season
Despite a slow start in 2016, Freddie Freeman achieved a milestone by hitting his first career cycle on June 15th. He went on to have a career-best year, hitting 30 home runs and leading the league in line drive percentage.
June 2017: Position Change and 1,000th Hit
While recovering from a hand injury in June 2017, Freddie Freeman demonstrated his team spirit by offering to play third base upon his return. He rejoined the Braves in July and achieved his 1,000th career hit.
October 2017: LASIK Surgery and All-Star Selection
To address vision issues that had persisted since 2012, Freddie Freeman opted for LASIK surgery in October 2017. His performance earned him his third All-Star game selection, this time as the starting first baseman for the National League. He also received an invitation to partake in the 2018 Home Run Derby.
2017: Representing Canada in the World Baseball Classic
Freddie Freeman fulfilled his long-standing desire to play for Canada in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
2018: Gold Glove Award Winner
Freddie Freeman won his first Gold Glove Award in 2018, recognizing his defensive skills at first base.
2018: Gold Glove Award and MVP Contender
Freddie Freeman won his first Gold Glove Award in 2018, sharing the honor with teammates Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis, who won for their respective positions. He also received the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award and finished fourth in the National League Most Valuable Player voting.
2018: All-Star Game and Home Run Derby
In 2018, Freddie Freeman was selected for his third All-Star Game and participated in the Home Run Derby.
2019: Silver Slugger Award and Defensive Recognition
Freddie Freeman had another impressive year in 2019, earning a Silver Slugger Award and his second consecutive Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award.
2019: All-Star Game Starter
Freddie Freeman was chosen as the starting first baseman for the National League in the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, his fourth All-Star selection.
2019: First Silver Slugger Award
Freddie Freeman won his first Silver Slugger Award in 2019, recognizing him as one of the best offensive players at his position in the National League.
July 2020: COVID-19 Diagnosis
Before the start of the 2020 season, Freddie Freeman tested positive for COVID-19 and experienced severe symptoms.
2020: National League MVP and Second Silver Slugger Award
Freddie Freeman had a standout year in 2020, winning both the National League Most Valuable Player Award and his second consecutive Silver Slugger Award.
2020: MVP Season
Freddie Freeman had a stellar 2020 season, leading the league in several offensive categories, which earned him his first MVP award, a Silver Slugger Award, and the Hank Aaron Award.
October 12, 2021: Game-Winning Home Run
On October 12, 2021, Freddie Freeman hit a game-winning home run for the Braves against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series, securing their place in the Championship Series.
2021: World Series Championship
Freddie Freeman achieved a lifelong dream in 2021 by winning the World Series with the Atlanta Braves, solidifying his legacy as one of the franchise's greatest players.
2021: Silver Slugger Award
Freddie Freeman was awarded the Silver Slugger Award in 2021 for his offensive performance.
2021: Third Silver Slugger Award
Freddie Freeman won his third Silver Slugger Award in 2021, further solidifying his reputation as a top offensive player.
2021: World Series Champion with the Atlanta Braves
Freddie Freeman won the 2021 World Series with the Atlanta Braves, defeating the Houston Astros.
2021: Contract Negotiations and Departure from the Braves
In 2021, Freddie Freeman and the Atlanta Braves engaged in contract negotiations but couldn't reach an agreement, leading to Freeman's departure from the team after the season.
March 18, 2022: Signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers
On March 18, 2022, Freddie Freeman signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking the start of a new chapter in his career.
April 8, 2022: Dodgers Debut
Freddie Freeman made his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 8, 2022.
April 18, 2022: First Home Run as a Dodger
On April 18, 2022, Freddie Freeman hit his first home run as a Dodger against his former team, the Atlanta Braves.
2022: Impressive Performance with the Dodgers
Freddie Freeman had an outstanding season with the Dodgers in 2022, leading the MLB in hits and doubles.
May 18, 2023: 300th Career Home Run
Freddie Freeman hit his 300th career home run on May 18, 2023, achieving a significant milestone.
2023: Representing Canada in the World Baseball Classic
Freddie Freeman participated in the 2023 World Baseball Classic as a member of the Canadian national team.
May 20, 2024: Sixth Career Grand Slam
On May 20, 2024, Freddie Freeman hit his sixth career grand slam, demonstrating his power-hitting abilities.
2024: Son's Diagnosis
Freddie Freeman's youngest son, Maximus, was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome in 2024.