LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Freddie Freeman finally got his first hit of the season after starting 0-for-8. His time on the basepaths was short and ended in .
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think I鈥檇 ever be a part of a hug out on a baseball field,鈥� a smiling Freeman said.
Freeman singled off Arizona’s Eduardo Rodriguez in the second inning on Saturday night. Two outs later, Santiago Espinal grounded out to second base.
Ketel Marte fielded the ball nearly halfway between first and second, and blocked Freeman’s path while putting his arms out.
With nowhere to run, Freeman walked toward a smiling Marte, who tagged him out with a hug to end the inning.
鈥淚 stopped and I was like, is there any way around this? If I go out of the baseline, I鈥檓 out. If I run back, he鈥檒l just run to second,鈥� Freeman said. 鈥淗e gave me a little 鈥楥ome here,鈥� and I was like 鈥楢ll right, let鈥檚 just do it.’鈥�
Freeman is known to wear his emotions on his sleeve, and he has greeted opposing players who arrive at first base with hugs in the past.
鈥淚鈥檓 very much a hugger,鈥� he said. 鈥淓motional man over here.鈥�
___
AP MLB:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
