Freddie Freeman’s Dodgers debut included reaching base three times, scoring a run and providing a comforting shoulder.
Colorado’s José Iglesias was emotional standing at first base following an early RBI single. When Freeman asked what was wrong, Iglesias said he’d just recently lost his father.
The former Braves first baseman offered words of encouragement.
“It was a beautiful moment,” Iglesias said after the Dodgers beat the Rockies 5-3 Friday in a season opener in Denver. “Beyond baseball, we’re human beings. That was very nice of Freddie.”
Freeman lost his mother, Rosemary, to skin cancer when he was 10.
“He’s like, ‘I know what you’re going through,’” recounted Iglesias, whose father was from Cuba. “It was very emotional for me.”
Freeman started his Dodgers tenure with a solid day — and a win. The 2020 NL MVP signed a six-year, $162 million deal with Los Angeles after leading the Braves to a World Series championship last season.
Freeman struck out in his first at-bat, then was hit by a pitch, walked and scored in the Dodgers’ five-run fourth inning, and lined a sharp single before taking a called third strike in the eighth.
Freeman went 0-for-4 in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Rockies.
“It's just a new uniform. Same game. But I'm excited to get going and get this next chapter of my career going."
Another ex-Brave Craig Kimbrel, who was traded to the Dodgers from the Chicago White Sox on April 1, allowed an RBI double to Charlie Blackmon before striking out Kris Bryant on a knuckle-curve to earn the save Friday.
Kimbrel allowed an RBI double to Charlie Blackmon before striking out Bryant on a knuckle-curve to earn the save.
“Just frozen,” Bryant explained.
The Dodgers entered the season a plus-480 to win the World Series, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Freeman appreciates being a big favorite.
“There’s one way you can embrace it, just go out there and try and win as many ball games as we can and get to October,” Freeman said.
New Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson delivered fastball right down the middle when he tossed out the first pitch to Bryant, who served as his catcher.
Wilson took the mound wearing a Rockies jersey with No. 3 on the back. His pitch received plenty of cheers from the sellout crowd of 48,627.
Wilson was once an infielder taken by Colorado in the fourth round of the 2010 draft. He hit .229 over two minor league seasons, before settling on football.
