Despite the 2025 MLB All-Star Game taking place in Atlanta, and the Atlanta Braves having three representatives, the player Fox and the powers that be felt it was best to interview in front of the entire stadium right before the game was the player who decided to ditch the Braves four seasons ago.
While it was surreal to see Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman back in the home dugout at Truist Park again, the emotions Freeman shed no longer hold the same weight they once did.
Freddie Freeman is back where it all started ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vEMOd9poe7
— MLB (@MLB) July 16, 2025
Freddie Freeman continues to be emotional in his returns to Atlanta
Make no mistake, Freddie Freeman, the longtime face of the Atlanta Braves, is still immensely popular in the state of Georgia. Out of the introductions, few players grew louder applause than Freeman did. However, the 35-year-old is now four seasons removed from playing for the Braves, and his emotional response to playing back in The A no longer has the same unanimous response it once had.
While some fans like Kurtis Seaboldt might believe it's impossible to hate Freddie Freeman, parody accounts like Statfax have no issue poking fun at how often Freeman seems to cry when he's back in Atlanta.
Others, like beccasbraves observed that fans probably accept that Freeman's return to Atlanta will always get this emotional treatment, whether we like it or not.
Atlantaholic was far more oppositional to Freddie getting the interview, correctly noting that this is no longer Freeman's city.
Freeman wasn't even the only former Brave making his return to Atlanta this All-Star Game. This All-Star Game is Max Fried's first time back at Truist Park since signing with the Yankees this offseason. Fried was just as integral as Freeman on the 2021 championship team, yet the former Braves lefty's return hardly has hardly made a noise.
Since leaving the Braves, Freeman has appeared in nearly as many All-Star Games, has won another World Series and won the World Series MVP. While fans will never truly know what happened during contract negotiations, it's inaccurate to pretend Freeman was completely passive when it came to why he did not return to Atlanta.
Braves fans should absolutely be thankful for Freeman's contributions as a Brave, and should be happy for him as he gets to return to Truist Park's home dugout once last time, but the continued tear shedding is starting to get old.