Nate Freiman, one of the few athletes from Wellesley to make a major league baseball roster, has announced his retirement from the sport and his intention to return to Duke University to get his MBA. The Wellesley High grad, who played for the Oakland A’s in 2013 and 2014, attended Duke as an undergrad and still holds a couple of baseball records there, including most career homers.
Freiman played in 116 major league games and hit 9 homers. One highlight was beating legendary reliever Mariano Rivera and the Yankees with an 18th-inning single in one game. The big right-handed first baseman even signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox in 2016.
The former Wellesley Little Leaguer wrote on Twitter that getting to play college and pro ball for the past 12 years was “the dream I’d had since I was 5 years old.” He has returned to Wellesley over the years to help coach kids.
While Freiman has moved away from town, his family remains a presence here. His mom, Marjorie, is on the Board of Selectmen.
MORE: Jack Sanford — The greatest Wellesley sports star you probably never heard of
