When Freddie Freeman officially put pen to paper on a six-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in March, Atlanta Braves fans sure circled June 24 on their calendars.

For the first time since his departure during free agency, Freeman will return to Atlanta to face off against the team where he made a name for himself in the majors. The Braves are set to host the Dodgers for a three-game series beginning on Friday, which includes an ESPN Sunday Night Baseball encounter.

Freeman was quite emotional when he met his former team for a series in Los Angeles two months ago. Now, as he is set to return to Atlanta, Freeman sees that emotions will be running high once again.

“I’m a very emotional person when it comes to this kind of stuff,” Freeman said on Thursday. “I don’t know how I’m going to play. I don’t know how I’m going to play or play like I want to because of all the emotions – because there’s going to be so much going on. Hopefully I can keep them in check.

“I want to win so I’ve got to do my part to win these games. But there’s going to be a lot of tearing up. I don’t know how that first at-bat is going to go Friday – or Saturday because there will be new fans, a different crowd. It’s going to be a lot.”

The Braves will hold a pregame ceremony for Freeman on Friday where he will receive his 2021 World Series ring, which the veteran first baseman is much looking forward to getting his hands on.

“For me in April, it was just good to see everybody again because of all the relationships I had,” Freeman said. “This one is going to be a little different – because I get my ring on Friday. To me, it’s more than a ring. It’s everything – all the hard work in that organization for 15 years to reach that point, the pinnacle of your sport, and win a championship.”

After the conclusion of the 2021 MLB season, all signs pointed toward Freeman re-signing with the Braves. For one, team general manager Alex Anthopoulos noted that he aimed to see the five-time All-Star “stay” in Atlanta. But after contract talks on this matter broke down following the lockout, Atlanta opted to instead trade for now-former Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson, and the team also signed him to an eight-year deal worth $168 million.

In the big picture, the Dodgers head into the series looking to maintain their first-place standing in the NL West, while the Braves aim to continue to inch closer to the New York Mets in the NL East.