Movies

Freddie Freeman MLB Network documentary showcases storied career, and his vulnerability

BBG News

I, Freddie Freeman, found myself gliding down a vibrant water slide, my two buoyant orange floaties holding aloft my arms and the greater part of my body, keeping me afloat in the cool water below.

Rosemary Freeman, Freddie’s mother, announces his arrival in the documentary ‘Driven: The Freddie Freeman Story,’ airing on MLB Network this Thursday at 5 p.m. Pacific (with a replay at 9:30 p.m.)

In that archival footage, coordinating producer Jed Tuminaro mentioned, brought tears to Freddie Freeman’s eyes as he watched his late mother, who passed away when Freddie was just ten and was a Dodgers star first baseman, speak his name.

In a straightforward manner, Freeman openly displays his feelings, and in “Driven: The Freddie Freeman Story,” the 35-year-old provides an intimate look at his path from Atlanta to Los Angeles, sharing insights about his son Max’s battle with Guillain-Barré syndrome and more recently, his World Series Most Valuable Player performance.

Voices

Hernández: ‘Time heals everything.’ Freddie Freeman, Braves fans find peace at All-Star Game

Four years of prosperity with the Dodgers have passed without a single tear shed by Freddie Freeman, illustrating just how dramatically things can shift over such a timespan.

In Paul Solga’s words, “He’ll weep on the field, he’ll weep off the field.” Going over the interview again, he found those parts to be the most powerful and impactful. When it came to assembling everything, those sections stood out and ultimately became our preferred choice for showcasing not just the player, but also the individual himself.

Throughout the documentary, Freddie Freeman consistently stands out as a key teammate. Towards the film’s conclusion, Freeman expresses, “When discussing past players, people don’t typically ask, ‘Was he a skilled player?’ Rather, they inquire, ‘Was he a good person?’

The production crew interviewed a handful of former and current teammates who convey the latter.

Close friends of Freeman from baseball, such as Jason Heyward (previously teammate on Braves and Dodgers), Dansby Swanson, Mookie Betts, and Justin Turner, have all commented on Freeman’s professional journey spanning 16 years so far. His career continues to progress.

Both managers who triumphed in a World Series alongside Freddie Freeman – Brian Snitker from the Braves and Dave Roberts of the Dodgers – are eager to discuss not just his talent on the field, but also highlight his character and the positive impact he has on their team’s clubhouse.

×

Often, when you have teammates, they share valuable insights with you,” Tuminaro explained, noting that this is only their third documentary featuring a current player (Mike Trout and Fernando Tatis Jr. being the previous ones). “Yes, he’s an exceptional hitter who plays well in all fields, and that’s great. We appreciate that kind of performance. However, what struck me was how many of them seemed to be addressing the individual, rather than just the ballplayer.

In case Freddie Freeman wasn’t already a compelling starting point for the documentary, the filmmakers also spoke with Fred Freeman, Freddie’s father, who turned out to be an incredibly rich source of information. Tuminaro found it difficult not to be captivated by the stories and character of Fred Freeman, a man who is both energetic and softly spoken, similar to his son.

While at Fred Freeman’s residence during the interview, Solga inquired about any personal recordings or archived footage that their documentary team might be able to review. Fred then climbed the stairs of his house and returned carrying an envelope containing various flash drives and photographs.

He said, ‘Here you go, have a look, take anything you want,'” Solga explained. “And I responded with, ‘Is that for real?’

Tuminaro mentioned that Fred Freeman is a key figure in two of his most cherished scenes from the documentary – firstly, genuine parental honesty after Freddie’s injuries during the 2024 playoffs, and secondly, unbridled joy following his son’s legendary 2024 World Series grand slam.

Tuminaro stated, ‘He conveyed an uncooked, heartfelt emotion that I believe only someone in his unique situation could express.’

Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw addresses the NL team prior to the match, with several players simply thrilled to share a locker room with him.

In simpler terms, Solga pointed out that many documentaries produced by MLB Network often focus on players from previous generations. This is because there’s less archived footage available for them compared to more recent players. With Freddie Freeman, however, whether it was Fred or Rosemary behind the camera, we get to witness his growth, from a toddler learning his signature swing, all the way to becoming a precocious pre-teen.

In this 90-minute film, we journey with Freeman as he recounts his entire career, from the hardships faced in early life, skipping college to enter the MLB draft, and culminating in his time within Major League Baseball.

However, viewers are likely to take away a unique view of Freddie Freeman from this experience – a glimpse behind the scenes revealing a man who isn’t typically vocal about matters outside the baseball field.

Tuminaro mentioned that his story has a lot of highs and lows, and it’s questionable if everyone fully appreciates this. Many of his triumphs came after overcoming significant challenges. … the effort needed to conquer those obstacles and succeed in crucial situations.

Read More

2025-07-17 21:31

Previous post Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel Métiers d’Art Debut Is Headed For NYC
Next post Second banana no more! Donkey Kong escapes from the shadow of Mario once and for all in Nintendo’s stunning new Bananza. And he’s not monkeying around, says PETER HOSKIN