Freddie Freeman gives compelling, honest answer to young aspiring baseball players.
Making an appearance as a guest on “MLB Central” on Saturday morning, Freddie Freeman was honest and direct when Lauren Shehadi asked him one thing he would tell young baseball players.
Freeman quickly answered, saying to “Swing hard,” then laughed it off and went on to say kids just need to have fun.
Freddie Freeman shares a message to youth baseball players:
“All these kids, they always ask me, ‘What do I need to do to be a big leaguer?’ ” Freeman said. “I’m always like, ‘Not think like that right now.’ Be a kid. Play flag football, play fastball, switch sports. You don’t need to be taking 12 lessons every week.”
Freddie Freeman wants youth baseball players to have fun. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
When his kids are feeling sore or tired, Freeman said he will occasionally tell them to skip practice and just focus on being a kid and having fun.
“For me as a 9-, 10-, 11-year-old, it was have one practice, play one game on the weekend, and you’re playing Heads-Up, Seven Up all day long at the Little League field,” Freeman said. “That’s what it’s about. It’s fun. This game is not supposed to be a job until later on in life.”
“I think kids need to be kids. Have fun. If you go 0-for-3, with three strikeouts in a game, go get an ice cream and not worry about it.”
Typically, Freeman tries to avoid giving advice to kids. But when he does, he tries to wait until they are sophomores or juniors in high school because they’re close to going to the next level and playing college baseball.
Freddie Freeman said baseball should not be a job “until later on in life.” AP Photo/Melissa Tamez
Focusing on having fun and playing baseball as a kid clearly worked out for Freeman during his childhood, as he is a three-time World Series champion, a former National League MVP (2020), a World Series MVP (2024) and a nine-time All-Star.
As a father of three boys and one girl, Freeman said he tells his oldest son, Charlie, three rules when he’s playing baseball. “Be aggressive, hit line drives and cheer on your teammates.”
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 13: Iván Herrera #48 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of the game between the Minnesota Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals at Target Field on June 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Steven Garcia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals struck early Saturday afternoon, but the Minnesota Twins offense responded. It ended up being a back-and-forth affair in Minneapolis, but the bats of Iván Herrera, Jordan Walker and Blaze Jordan would be the difference makers.
The St. Louis Cardinals offense would come out of the gate firing in the top of the 1st inning as Masyn Winn walked and Iván Herrera jacked a 417 foot shot into the upper deck of Target Field giving the Cardinals an immediate 2-0 lead. (Spoiler Alert: he would provide a crucial encore later)
St. Louis would add to their lead in the top of the 2nd inning as Blaze Jordan tripled off of the right field wall to lead it off. After Fermin fouled out, Pedro Pagés picked him up by doubling to right scoring Jordan.
After the Pagés double, Nathan Church would reach on an infield ground ball to second advancing Pagés to third. He would then score on a sacrifice fly by Masyn Winn making it 4-0 Cardinals and they would need those additional runs.
Stop me if you’ve heard me say this before, but Matthew Liberatore got off to a strong start for the first few innings before running into trouble in the middle of the game. Saturday, it was the bottom of the 4th inning when Matthew’s day would start to come apart as he gave up solo home runs to both Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis as the Twins cut the Cardinals lead in half ending the inning trailing 4-2.
The bottom of the 5th inning would be problematic for Liberatore, too. After he opened the inning with a walk to Kreidler, he grooved a 94 mph four-seam fastball to Luke Keaschall who turned on it and sent it 371 feet just to the right of the left field foul pole tying the game at 4-4. After Liberatore got Jackson to line out to center, manager Oli Marmol removed him from the game and brought in Matt Svanson. Matthew Liberatore’s final stat line for the game was 4 1/3 innings pitched giving up 4 earned runs on 5 hits striking out 4 and walking 1. The good news is Matt Svanson was sharp as he finished the 5th inning and also took care of the bottom of the 6th inning allowing no hits or runs while striking out 2.
To put this in a video game way, the St. Louis Cardinals powered up in the top of the 7th inning. After Church and Winn struck out to start the inning, Iván Herrera and Jordan Walker would destroy baseballs in consecutive at-bats. Herrera would slam an arching 403 foot shot into the left field stands followed by Jordan Walker absolutely destroying an 80 mph sweeper launching the longest home run at Target Field this season traveling 455 feet off of the third deck and knocking the hat off of a fan. Exit velocity? 117 mph! Cardinals grab the lead back at 6-4.
The Cardinals offense was not even close to done in the top of the 7th inning. After Walker’s cannon launch, Lars Nootbaar and Alec Burleson singled which brought the new wonderchild Blaze Jordan up and he did not disappoint. He joined the home run party turning a 94 mph four-seam fastball into 3 more runs for St. Louis upping their lead to 9-4! This kid is a keeper!
The good news just keeps coming as Ryne Stanek rebounded from Friday night’s unfortunate circumstances pitching an uneventful bottom of the 7th for St. Louis keeping the Twins at bay with a strikeout and 2 flyouts. No sweat. Chris Roycroft made his first appearance since being called up from Memphis Friday to take care of the Twins in the bottom of the 8th inning. Oli Marmol decided to give us a flashback to the good ole days of Earl Weaver getting tossed out of games when the Minnesota Twins made a ridiculously-late ABS challenge and he went nuclear. Can’t blame him for being bent about the Twins being allowed to walk halfway toward the dugout before tapping the helmet. Absurd. That would accelerate Roycroft being removed from the game after the walk to Martin and then a dribbler single on the third base side of the pitcher’s mound giving the Twins two runners on with just one out. JoJo Romero was brought in by substitute manager Daniel Descalso and he gave up a single which scored one run making it 9-5 Cardinals, but he was able to get Lewis to ground into a double play to limit the damage.
Riley O’Brien opened the bottom of the 9th inning by walking the bases loaded. Are you kidding me? Interesting that the Cardinals brought in JJ Wetherholt who had been given the day off as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the 9th. He would come in handy as he was responsible for getting the second out on a ground ball by Josh Bell after Keaschall struck out looking. The Twins did score a run on the play making it 9-6 Cardinals, but the tying run was still coming up to the plate in Caratini. Fortunately, Riley O’Brien was able to get the final out on a fly ball to Nootbaar in left field to lock down a badly-needed Cardinals victory.
The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their stay in Minneapolis with a Sunday afternoon game against the Twins. Michael McGreevy will get the start for the Cardinals while the Twins will send Taj Bradley to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm central time and the game TV broadcast will be available at Cardinals.tv.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 12: Spencer Torkelson #20 of the Detroit Tigers runs out a solo homer during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on June 12, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Guardians defeated the Tigers 3-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Detroit Tigers (29-41) vs. Cleveland Guardians (38-33)
Time/Place: 4:10 p.m., Progressive Field SB Nation Site: Covering the Corner Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Tarik Skubal (3-2, 2.70 ERA) vs. LHP Joey Cantillo (4-3, 4.57 ERA)
Jun 26, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a solo home run against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Shohei Ohtani is back in the starting lineup as Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers take on the White Sox.
Shohei Ohtani is out of street clothes and back in the lineup today. | (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images)
No, you’re not dreaming. At least not about what the White Sox have been doing lately.
Last night’s 8-2 bashing of the mighty Dodgers continued a streak of terrific performances against top teams in the tough stretch of schedule — and ran Chicago’s home winning streak to eight. It will be Sean Burke trying to run that streak to nine, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto trying to see that doesn’t happen.
Righthander Yamamato is the ace of the Dodgers staff among pitchers who don’t also DH, with a 2.68 ERA and 0.918 WHIP. He’s been particularly effective of late, allowing just three runs across 27 1/3 innings in his last four starts. He’ll face a lefty-heavy White Sox lineup, with Sam Antonacci starting things off:
Burke, who has a 3.88 ERA and 1.18 WHIP for the season, has been vulnerable of late, giving up 12 earned runs in 25 2/3 innings his last five times out. He had an opener against the Phillies last time, but that doesn’t appear to have helped much, because he proceeded to walk five in 4 1/3, so Will Venable has him with a traditional start this time. Burke will contend with a Dodger lineup that has Shohei Ohtani back in his customary leadoff spot after a one-game break to recover from a knee tweak on Thursday.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. Central, with the temps in the mid-80s and a stiff breeze out right to left. Usual broadcast suspects.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 12: Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals hits a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning at Nationals Park on June 12, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the historic meltdown in San Francisco, the Nats came out flat and the Mariners made them pay. Now they need to prevent things from spiraling out of control. A win today would be a great way to move on from that Giants loss. The Nats need Cade Cavalli to be a stopper.
The Nats are making a few lineup alterations. James Wood is moving to right field, pushing Dylan Crews to center and Daylen Lile to left. Jose Tena will be the DH and Nasim Nunez will be back at second base. Drew Millas will do the catching in this contest to give Keibert Ruiz a breather. As mentioned, Cade Cavalli is starting, and this is one of the biggest starts of his young career.
With Randy Arozarena’s injury, the Mariners have to make a tweak. Old pal Victor Robles is in right field. Besides that, the only change is behind the plate, with veteran Mitch Garver doing the catching. Despite injuries to Cal Raleigh, Brendan Donovan, JP Crawford and now Arozarena, this lineup still has juice. Luis Castillo has had a tumultuous season, but he has been better lately and will be on the hill today.
It would probably be a little too much to call this a must win game, but it is a contest the Nats could really use. They cannot let that Giants disaster fester much longer, and if they keep losing, that game will become a dark cloud. This has been a resilient bunch, but this is a test. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 08: Trey Gibson #43 of the Baltimore Orioles fields a ground ball during a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 8, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles are, once again, playing some very good baseball. These last three games have been a particularly nice showing for the offense, which has scored seven runs in each of them. Another seven runs today would be plenty welcome.
There’s no Adley Rutschman in the Orioles starting lineup today. That’s not a surprise since he caught last night, and a day—or matinee in this case—showing after a late evening usual means the catcher gets the day off. Hopefully he is available off the bench if a pinch hitter is needed.
Blaze Alexander is back in the order and playing third base. That means Coby Mayo heads to the bench after a tough game on Friday in which he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a fielding error. Craig Albernaz is trying to find the hot hand all over the field.
It’s Trey Gibson’s turn on the mound. He has struggled to miss bats so far as a big leaguer. Across 17 innings he has just five strikeouts. That includes his most recent outing against the Mariners, where he did not record any strikeouts across 4.2 frames. Punch outs aren’t everything, but at some point Gibson will need to prevent contact with more consistency.
Another win for the O’s today would make it four in a row, and it could allow them to leap frog the Blue Jays in the AL Standings. Let’s get it!
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 12: Cole Young #2 and Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners walk to the dugout before a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 12, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners will play a real baseball game today.
Yesterday’s game was delayed two hours due to rain, resulting in a purely non-competitive game in a mostly empty stadium. The Mariners won 10-2. Build a roof.
The sun is out on Saturday in the nation’s capital, however, and the Mariners will have to play a real baseball game. Unfortunately, Randy Arozarena pulled his hamstring on Friday, again in a game that started after many a bed time, and is out today. Cole Young leads off. The lefty sluggers Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone hit fourth and fifth. They’ll face Nationals “ace” Cade Cavalli. He’s been spectacular at times this year, and awful at others.
Luis Castillo gets the start for the Mariners. His former co-piglet Bryce Miller was great yesterday and has likely shed the training wheels for good. Castillo will look to show the Mariners he’s beyond them, too.
Sorry to be brief. I am eating some Dave’s Hot Chicken, flavored Hot, and it is Hot.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 25: A general view of Citi Field on Memorial Day prior to the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets on Monday, May 25, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Mets lineup
Lineup to follow
Braves lineup
Lineup to follow
Broadcast info
First pitch: 4:10 PM EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 11: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after scoring in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on June 11, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
KANSAS CITY, MO - JUNE 10: Texas Rangers centerfielder Evan Carter (32) catches a fly ball for an out during a MLB game between the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals on June 10, 2026, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Texas Rangers have placed outfielder Evan Carter on the injured list with a strained oblique, the team announced today. To take his place on the active roster, the Rangers have recalled infielder Cody Freeman.
This move was announced barely an hour before today’s game in Boston, and Corey Seager is out of the lineup again, having been declared day-to-day yesterday after the collision at home in Kansas City on Thursday. My guess is that, if Seager were able to play today, the Rangers wouldn’t have made this move, but they weren’t going to play this game with both Seager and Carter unavailable, leaving them with a two man bench.
Carter has not hit well this season, and if this is a short enough stint that he’s expected to miss just the minimum ten days, it would allow him to go on a rehab assignment next weekend with either Frisco or Round Rock, and maybe see if he can get things going with some at bats against minor league pitchers.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 07: Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after pitching during the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 07, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Look, none of us wanted to tune into a game in June and see Mickey Gasper leading off as the team’s DH. But it worked last night. Can they keep it going this afternoon? They’ll have to do it against Jacob deGrom, who is no longer JACOB DEGROM (Or is it JACOB deGROM? I have no idea, ask someone French) but who is pretty good nonetheless.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 7: Bubba Chandler #36 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on June 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins have the rare distinction of holding the exact same record going into today’s contest at PNC Park.
Both teams find themselves 35-35 through 70 games, making this contest a crucial one for momentum both in the series and the regular season as a whole.
The Pirates have lost two straight contests after falling in the series finale to the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the opener to the Marlins in a 8-3 defeat.
The Marlins are turning to Lake Banchero for the start in today’s game. It is only the fourth career start for Bachar, who has been mostly a bullpen pitcher throughout his career. It’s the third time this season the Marlins are calling on him for an opener. On June 2, Bachar gave the Marlins 2.2 innings without allowing a hit. He had a similar outcome in his second start against the Tampa Bay Rays, letting nobody on base in three innings of work.
The Marlins will rely on their bullpen arms more in this game, but the team is well-rested after Sandy Alcantara pitched eight innings in last night’s contest.
The Pirates will counter with Bubba Chandler, who has gone five innings or more in each of his last four starts, but only has one win in those appearances to show for it.
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet
Pitching Matchup: Lake Bachar (0-0, 2.97 ERA) vs. Bubba Chandler (2-7, 4.91 ERA)
BD community, let us know how you are feeling in the comments section.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JUNE 12: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres forces out Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles to start a double play in the fifth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 12, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres (35-33) at Baltimore Orioles (34-37), June 13, 2026, 1:05 p.m. PST
Watch: Padres.TV
Location: Oriole Park at Camden Yards – San Diego, Baltimore, Mary.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 12: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves looks on before the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 12, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Join us and discuss game 2 in Flushing in the comments below!
