8-Year-Old Girl Asks Freddie Freeman
Can I Be a Baseball Player – The Answer That Silences Truist Park and Surprises Dodgers Fans

A Question That Stops the Game

During a warm spring matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park, a moment off the scoreboard captured everyone’s attention. Between innings, as Freddie Freeman made his way to the dugout, an eight-year-old girl leaned over the railing and called out to him with innocent courage.

“Can I be a baseball player too?”

The crowd nearby heard it. Freeman definitely heard it. But no one expected what would happen next.

Freeman’s Pause That Captured Thousands

Instead of offering a quick nod or a simple autograph, Freddie Freeman stopped completely. He took a few steps toward the young girl, kneeled to meet her eye level, and smiled — not as a superstar, but as a dad, a teammate, and a man who understood the weight of that question.

“You absolutely can,” he said gently. “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The game belongs to you just as much as it belongs to me.”

Truist Park went silent for a moment. Then came applause — not because of a home run or a diving catch, but because of a sentence that hit harder than any pitch.

A Moment Larger Than Baseball

In a league often obsessed with stats, trades, and contracts, Freeman’s spontaneous interaction reminded fans why people fall in love with sports in the first place. This wasn’t about winning or losing. It was about inspiration. In a time when representation and inclusion in sports are major conversations, a few words from a former MVP spoke volumes.

Social media lit up instantly. Clips of the moment were posted by fans and quickly picked up by national outlets. Dodgers and Braves fans alike praised Freeman, with some even calling the encounter the “highlight of the season.”

The Girl Behind the Question

The young girl was later identified as Ava Martinez, a Little Leaguer from Georgia who had been brought to the game by her older brother. Her dream of becoming a baseball player had often been met with hesitation from others who told her to try softball instead. But she had insisted on attending the Dodgers game to see her favorite player, Freddie Freeman — a player she admired not just for his bat, but for his quiet leadership and character.

What she got that day was more than a signature or a photo. She got validation.

Her mother later shared online, “Ava cried the entire way home — not because she was sad, but because someone she looked up to believed in her.”

Dodgers Clubhouse Reaction

Back in the Dodgers locker room, reporters asked Freeman about the moment. His response was humble but powerful.

“We don’t always get to choose the moments that matter,” he said. “But when a kid asks you something that real, you better give them an answer they’ll never forget.”

Teammates praised Freeman for his character, with Mookie Betts calling the interaction “the kind of thing that makes baseball bigger than baseball.”

A Ripple Across the Sport

Within a day, MLB’s official account shared the moment. Women’s baseball organizations applauded Freeman. Former softball and baseball stars chimed in, celebrating Ava and encouraging more young girls to dream big.

A few even suggested the league use the clip in future promotional campaigns about inclusion in baseball. One fan tweeted, “Forget marketing strategies. Just show this moment.”

A Final Word That Stays With Us

Freeman’s answer may not change league policy or alter the standings, but it changed a life. And it reminded millions of what sports can really mean.

Sometimes the most powerful play is not made on the field, but beside it.

And sometimes, the most meaningful cheer in a ballpark comes not after a grand slam — but after a child hears the truth.

Yes, Ava. You can be a baseball player.