Some of Braves Country is still probably coming to terms with Freddie Freeman leaving Atlanta. After being drafted 78th overall at 17-years-old, Freeman spent more than a decade in a Braves uniform, inking a massive eight-year deal just before his 24th birthday and three years before his contract expired.
Since then, Freeman won an MVP and helped the Braves win their first World Series since 1995. As fans who’ve grown up with Freeman cope with losing their childhood hero, the celebration of his career in Atlanta continues… or will it?
The Dodgers are set to travel across the country in a three-game series this weekend, and it’ll be the first time in Freeman’s entire career that he’ll be suiting up in the visitor’s locker room.
Freeman homered in his first at-bat against his old club a couple of months ago in Los Angeles, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he did something equally spectacular this weekend. Still, Freeman should be met with cheers and a standing ovation during his first plate appearance on Friday night. There’s no questioning what the organization will do — celebrate the man. Freeman will be presented with his World Series ring, which will likely be accompanied by a touching tribute video.
Regardless of how you feel about the situation, it would be ridiculous to bash one of the most beloved and loyal players in team history. He was arguably the most important piece of the World Series run last year, and he did it the right way. He stuck it out when the Braves were going through a rebuild, and he was rewarded with the Commissioner’s Trophy.
He might not be Hammerin’ Hank, but Freddie Freeman is in the same conversation as the greatest Braves ever. He should be met with an explosion of cheers, and eventually, he should have #5 retired. However, it is still baseball. Let the boos rain down on the Southern California native if the two teams meet in the postseason.
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