Freeman set for Atlanta ovation: Will 'take it all in'

ATLANTA -- Four years of instrumentality visits to Atlanta has prepared Freddie Freeman for different Tuesday night, this clip arsenic the starting archetypal baseman for the National League successful the All-Star Game.

Freeman, present successful his 4th play with the Los Angeles Dodgers, played his archetypal 12 seasons with the Atlanta Braves. He makes nary effort to fell his emotions erstwhile helium returns and says helium won't beryllium amazed if different lukewarm reception from fans creates different affectional response.

"Now that I'm here, I deliberation it's going to beryllium special," Freeman said Monday night. "For the past 4 years, each clip I travel back, the fans, they've fixed maine specified large big, lasting ovations, truthful I don't expect anything.

"I'm conscionable blessed to beryllium backmost and play successful beforehand of these fans again. So, if they springiness maine one, judge me, I'll instrumentality it each in. I deliberation you guys know, immoderate I consciousness connected the field, I fto it travel out, truthful we'll spot what happens."

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it was wide however overmuch it meant to Freeman to instrumentality to Atlanta arsenic an All-Star.

"It's thing that I cognize erstwhile they announced that it was going to beryllium held here, it was marked connected his calendar," Roberts said. "And past that was benignant of his goal, was to get backmost present and get successful beforehand of the Braves' faithful that cheered him connected for, what, 11, 12 years. So he's sleeping successful his ain furniture for a mates nights."

Freeman said helium has visited with Braves manager Brian Snitker and immoderate erstwhile teammates but spent much clip relishing his narration with the Atlanta fans.

"It's special," helium said. "I deliberation each clip I travel back, I effort to represent what Atlanta means to me. Oh, it's peculiar each clip I travel backmost and the receptions they've fixed maine the past 4 years. So I spent a batch of fantastic years here. ... I'm excited to beryllium back."