Freddie Freeman gets emotional as MLB Network reveals ‘Driven’ documentary

Freddie Freeman couldn’t hold it in.

The Dodgers’ first baseman was visibly emotional on Tuesday as MLB Network rolled out the trailer for an upcoming 90-minute feature film, which airs Thursday, July 17 at 8 p.m. ET, about his life. Driven: The Freddie Freeman Story chronicles Freeman’s resilience, love for his family, and quiet pursuit of greatness, all the traits that shaped as much by heartbreak as they were by talent.

And that heartbreak came rushing back as he watched the finished cut for the first time.

“For me, watching it for the first time and seeing my dad speak and talk about things,” Freeman explained. “I saw a couple of pictures of when I was younger. Obviously, we talk about my mom, too. And you can hear my mom’s voice in videos when I’m coming down a water slide when I got to be three or four years old. Hearing my mom’s voice again, that’s what kind of gets me and hits me and gets me all emotional. You can hear her saying my name right there; it’s going to make me cry.”

Freeman paused.

“You guys know I like to cry. It just pulled at the heartstrings,” he continued.”I just miss my mom a ton. Seeing her on the videos and hearing my dad talked about how he thinks I’ve never really gotten over it, which I haven’t, it’s sad, but it’s also kind of inspiring that there’s so many routes and roads you can take in life. And so many hardships that happened, and you’re still able to get through it. And see my dad get through it, raise three boys as a single dad, mourn the loss of his wife, and just keep going. Hopefully, it’s an inspiration to a lot of people that have lost a parent as a young kid that you can still find the right path and succeed in life.”

MLB Network announced its next “Presents” documentary is on Freddie Freeman, next Thursday.

Here’s an emotional Freeman discussing the film. pic.twitter.com/ZiyCHztQ6U

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 9, 2025

Freeman’s mother, Rosemary, died of melanoma when he was just 10 years old. She was first diagnosed when Freddie was four, and the cancer returned six years later. She passed away on June 13, 2000, when Freddie was in the fifth grade.

To this day, Freeman wears long sleeves during games to honor her memory.

Her memory will live on, honored not only by Freddie but also through the voices of those closest to him. While the documentary centers on Freddie’s journey and character, it also touches on the lasting impact of his mother’s influence.

The film features interviews with his father, Fred Freeman, Dodgers President Andrew Friedman, Manager Dave Roberts, as well as Mookie Betts, Justin Turner, Jason Heyward, Dansby Swanson, Braves manager Brian Snitker, and MLB Network insider Tom Verducci.

“I’ve gone through a lot in my life. I appreciate this game and what it’s given me,” says Freeman in the documentary. “If I cry on the field, I don’t care. Whatever happens – hitting a home run, whatever it is – it’s just raw emotion. Baseball has given me so much.”