Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers were represented by six players in the 2022 MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium, including Freddie Freeman, who was a late addition to the National League roster after initially being snubbed.
Freeman entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Paul Goldschmidt but grounded out into a shift to end the third inning. He was then substituted out of the game for Pete Alonso.
“You’re excited, but for some reason I was calm up there,” Freeman said of his only at-bat in the All-Star Game. “I don’t know if it was because I knew I wasn’t going to be able to see the ball because of shadows.
“Pretty calm, and then when they started chanting my name, I started to get a smile on my face. We all do this for memories, and these are memories we’re going to have forever. Having my name chanted at Dodger Stadium in an All-Star Game, I don’t think it can get much better than that.”
Tuesday marked Freeman’s sixth career All-Star appearance, but first at his home ballpark. “It’s been wonderful. Being at home for an All-Star Game, I think everyone that plays in Major League Baseball wants that at one point in their career,” Freeman said.
“To be able to do that in my first year with the Dodgers, getting the ‘Freddie’ chants in my AB, that was special.”
Freeman enjoyed watching Kershaw start for NL
In addition to the “Freddie!” chants he received, Freeman enjoyed watching Clayton Kershaw start for the NL at Dodger Stadium. “As a baseball fan, it was what we all came for,” Freeman began.
“Him, Albert and Miguel, those are the reasons I was most excited. Clayton Kershaw, Hall of Famer, gets to pitch in his own stadium, in front of a fanbase that has cheered him on since he was a kid. I think everybody was looking forward to that, and he didn’t disappoint.”
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