Stepping out of the shadow of his ankle injury! Freeman aims to play every game this year and hopes to end his career in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman shared heartfelt remarks during a US media interview today, expressing his wish for the Dodgers jersey to be his final Major League uniform. With two years remaining on his contract, Freeman intends to compete for four more seasons to hit the 20-year career mark and hopes to retire proudly in Los Angeles. Now 36, he not only aspires to return to a full attendance mode in the 2026 season but also has set his sights on the legendary milestone of 3,000 hits, demonstrating his strong competitive spirit and passion for baseball.

During his four years with the Dodgers, Freeman has become an indispensable soul of the team. His walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series remains one of the greatest moments in franchise history. Freeman said, “I love it here. I’m from Southern California, and the fans and organization have been very good to me and my family. Although contract matters are not solely up to me, I trust that President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman knows how much I want to stay.” He emphasized that for now, his focus is on fulfilling the remainder of his contract and playing the role of a professional teammate.

For the 2026 season, Freeman has set a highly ambitious physical goal: to play all 162 regular-season games. In the past two years, he appeared in 147 games each season, which is already an impressive attendance rate, but for a star who has played no fewer than 158 games per season for five consecutive years, it’s still not enough. Although manager Dave Roberts has often encouraged him to rest for long-term considerations, Freeman said he will keep preparing daily to play and joked, “When the coach tells me to rest, I usually resist, though I probably end up losing that argument.”

Besides game appearances, Freeman holds himself to high standards in his hitting performance. Last year, he posted a .295 batting average, ranking third among National League qualified hitters behind only Trea Turner and Nico Hoerner. However, falling short of the .300 mark bothered him greatly. He revealed that last spring training he struggled with recovering from a right ankle injury, forcing him to wear a bandage during games until August. This not only affected his hitting feel but also significantly impacted his defensive mobility. After a fully healthy offseason, Freeman believes he can deliver better results on both offense and defense this year.

Looking ahead, Freeman plans to play four more years, which will bring his Major League tenure to a full 20 years and retire at age 40. This period will also be critical for his pursuit of the 3,000-hit milestone. Currently the active hits leader, Freeman is only 569 hits away from this sacred goal. Given his consistent production since 2018, averaging over 142 hits per full season, his chances are very high. He admitted that while “Father Time” will eventually catch up to every athlete, he intends to stay ahead of it and continue contributing to the Dodgers.