After the Atlanta Braves won the World Series in 2021, nobody thought pending free agent Freddie Freeman would wear another uniform during his MLB career. Freeman’s awkward departure from Atlanta mimicked one of his Dodgers teammates, Mookie Betts, who had won an MVP and a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2018 before they traded him out west in February of 2020.
How Dodgers' Mookie Betts Helped Freddie Freeman Acclimate to Los Angeles originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
After the Atlanta Braves won the World Series in 2021, nobody thought pending free agent Freddie Freeman would wear another uniform during his MLB career.
But, a disconnect between Freeman’s party and the Braves’ front office led to a Matt Olson trade, and Freeman eventually signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a six-year, $162 million contract.
Freeman’s awkward departure from Atlanta mimicked one of his Dodgers teammates, Mookie Betts, who had won an MVP and a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2018 before they traded him out west in February of 2020.
Despite having already established Hall of Fame trajectories in their first stomping grounds, Freeman and Betts shared a similar sentiment when joining Los Angeles.
MLB Network recently released a video detailing Freeman’s transition to Los Angeles and the role Betts played:
“You may know a couple guys, but they don’t know your routine, they don’t know how you like things, they don’t know you. It’s just a lot,” Betts said.
While the two superstars were familiar with each other, they mostly kept to themselves during batting practices and training. That is, until Betts told him:
“Hey Freddie, look, I understand the situation you’re in. We don’t have to talk. That’s cool. But, just know, I’m here for you if you ever need anything.”
“That was the start of our relationship. Mookie was my first guy that helped me get through this thing,” Freeman said.
From the outside perspective, these seem like unflappable superstars. Their cool demeanors, poised games, and vibrant personalities make it hard to comprehend that something as straightforward as switching jobs could be so difficult.
But ballplayers are still human, and humans who experience very real emotions. This type of camaraderie and support is part of the reason why Betts (and Freeman) are so beloved by everyone in baseball.
Beyond their similar paths to the Dodgers, these two know what it takes to win and know that building a coherent clubhouse is one of the most vital steps.
Expect this relationship to help guide Los Angeles to more banners, soon.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
