Humorous moment in Saturday's Los Angeles Dodgers win earns highlight-reel moment.
Who says there can't be peaceful, easy feelings in the middle of an MLB game? They popped up between first baseman Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers and second baseman Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night.
Early in the game, Freeman was trying to advance from first to second base. Marte was waiting for Freeman to advance to second, but Freeman knew that he was out by a country mile.
In the ensuing moments, Marte appeared to motion toward Freeman to come closer. Marte actually wanted to give Freeman a hug. Freeman didn't seem to mind Marte's request at all.
So, the hug moment became a viral moment on social media on Saturday night. This play never played into how the game finished. Will Smith, on his bobblehead night no less and his birthday, too, hit a two-run home run late to propel the Dodgers past the Diamondbacks 3-2.
That put the wraps on a Dodgers sweep in their opening series of the 2026 MLB season.
Now, what was running through Freeman's head ahead of getting hugged by Marte?
“Well, I stopped, and I was like, ‘Is there any way around this?’" Freeman said, according to MLB.com reporter Manny Randhawa. "If I go out of the baseline, I'm out. If I run back, he’ll just run to second. He gave me a little, ‘Come here.’ I said, 'Alright, let's just do it.'
“I'm very much a hugger, I think you guys all know that," Freeman said. "Emotional man over here."
Ever since Freeman joined the Dodgers, he's been one of the most influential players on the field. Off the field? Freeman is a devoted husband and father. Not only does he carry himself as a professional, but he's the epitome of what fans might consider a great Dodgers player.
There's little doubt when Freeman finishes his MLB career that he'll join the list of legendary Dodgers first basemen, ranging from Wes Parker to Steve Garvey.
Right now, though, Freeman has no intention of retiring. There's still a lot of baseball left in him, especially in the 2026 MLB season.
On Sunday, the Dodgers get a very rare Sunday off.
Then, on Monday, they'll open a three-game home series at Dodger Stadium against the Cleveland Guardians.
Maybe we'll all get another tender, funny moment in this series, too.
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