As every athlete eventually learns, Father Time is undefeated. Even the best must one day hang up their cleats — and Dodgers star Freddie Freeman is fully aware of that reality.
Now 35 years old and turning 36 in September, Freeman acknowledges his career is entering its final chapters. In a conversation with The Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett, Freeman opened up about his future in baseball.
“I’m 35 now, and I’ll be 36 later this year,” Freeman said. “There’s not a lot of time left. It’s something you start thinking about.”
Freeman is currently under contract with the Dodgers through the 2027 season and says he’d like to play two additional years after that, making 2029 his potential final season — which would end when he turns 40.
“Two years after this deal, then ideally two more. I’d be 40 in September 2029,” Freeman explained.
That would mean 20 seasons in Major League Baseball — a satisfying, round milestone. And Freeman is a fan of round numbers.
“Round numbers are cool,” said Freeman, who made his MLB debut on September 1, 2010, with the Braves.
Freeman grew up dreaming of reaching classic baseball milestones — 500 home runs, 3,000 hits — and one of those still motivates him today: the 3,000-hit club.
“It would mean a lot,” Freeman said of reaching 3,000 hits, a feat achieved by just 33 players in MLB history. “I’ve always valued hits. I know they’ve lost some of their shine with analytics, but I still care about them.”
After going 1-for-4 in a recent 9-3 win over the A’s, Freeman sits at 2,309 career hits. He’s already calculated the pace: if he averages 150 hits per season through 2029, he’ll cross the 3,000-hit mark.
“Of course, you never know when Father Time will catch up,” Freeman said. “I’m doing my best to hold him off. If I can stay healthy and consistent, it’s within reach.”
Health, however, remains a crucial factor. Freeman has been one of the league’s most durable players, but he did miss 15 games last season — the most since 2017, when a fractured wrist sidelined him for part of the year.
The most notable injury was a badly sprained ankle suffered in September, where he tore ligaments. Though he played through the pain and was eventually named World Series MVP, he had ankle surgery in November. The issue has lingered into the current season, even landing him on the 10-day injured list in March after a shower-related tweak.
Now, Freeman undergoes up to 90 minutes of daily treatment just to stay game-ready.
“I’m not at 100%, but I feel good enough to play without the ankle being on my mind,” he said. “It takes a lot of effort every day just to stay out there.”
Despite the ankle and age, Freeman is off to one of the hottest starts of his career. In 32 games, he’s slashing .362/.430/.698 with a 1.128 OPS, 10 doubles, nine home runs, and 33 RBIs.
Last week alone, Freeman went 14-for-28 with three home runs and 12 RBIs across seven games, earning National League Player of the Week honors — and reigniting talk of another MVP campaign (he won his first in 2020).
“He’s been relentless,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “He’s just taking great at-bats. I looked up and saw he was hitting .360 — I didn’t even realize. But when you watch him, you see it.”
Still, individual accolades are secondary for Freeman.
“Winning is what drives me,” he said.
But if and when he gets to 3,000 hits, a moment of personal pride will certainly be warranted.
“He’s going to get there,” Roberts said confidently. “I have no doubt.”
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