Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman Reveals Retirement Plan After Welcoming Daughter

In an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal published on Tuesday, Freeman opened up about reaching the 3,000-hit milestone while also acknowledging shifting priorities after becoming a father for the fourth time.

“Obviously, getting 3,000 hits would be very, very cool,” Freeman said. “But ever since baby girl came into this world about a month ago, my perspective has changed a little bit on individual stats and how long I would want to play.”

Freeman added that, health permitting, he still hopes to continue playing for three more seasons after this year, which would keep him on the field through age 40. At the same time, he acknowledged that spending long stretches away from his family has become increasingly difficult. He said he and his wife, Chelsea, have already talked about how hard it is being away from their newborn daughter, London, during road trips.

While leaving his sons Charlie, Brendan and Maximus has always been emotional, Freeman admitted this situation feels different.

“I’m missing things for something she’ll never know,” Freeman said. “She’s not going to know I missed these things either. But it weighs on me and my heart… All I ever wanted was a family. But all I ever wanted to do was play baseball, too. It’s such a hard thing, it really is.”

In the meantime, Freeman continues to have a solid 2026 season. He is batting .260 with 50 hits, six home runs and 24 RBIs in 51 games, while Los Angeles sits at 34-20 and holds first place in the National League West. 

Freeman and the Dodgers return to action Tuesday night against the Colorado Rockies at Dodgers Stadium as they look to extend their current win streak to four games.