Carol Freeman-Branstine, Freeman's aunt and family manager, is a contestant on Season 2 of ABC's The Golden Bachelor. The crossover links Major League Baseball and reality dating TV in a way few fans anticipated, with the Dodgers star Freddie Freeman connected to a show in which 23 women try to win the heart of Mel Owens, a 66-year-old former Rams linebacker turned lawyer.
Freeman-Branstine, 63, is described on ABC's bio as more than a relative to Freeman: she is a central figure in the family’s pursuit of love on the show. The bio notes she has three daughters from a previous relationship, loves Bad Bunny, and is a skilled tambourine player. It also says she drinks more Diet Coke than water and recently returned to college, joking that she now qualifies for student and senior discounts. In the program's framing, she serves as the aunt and family manager, guiding the family’s involvement in what is described as Freeman-Branstine’s quest for a lasting connection with Owens.
On the dating show, Freeman-Branstine is among the 23 contestants pursuing Owens, who is introduced as a former Rams linebacker turned lawyer and described by ABC as the second-ever Golden Bachelor. Owens opened the premiere with candor about his approach to the process. He acknowledged anxiety and said, age aside, he is seeking chemistry and genuine connection. "Falling in love never stops being magical," he told the camera at the start of the journey. He later hedge-trimmed expectations by addressing a prior controversial remark that he would "cut" any woman over the age of 60; he said he regrets the wording and emphasized that his focus is on how people feel when they meet.
The premiere also set up the emotional and logistical stakes of the season. Owens admitted the moment can be overwhelming as he meets the women and navigates the mansion's dynamics. He said, "Age doesn’t matter. When they walk out, I’m not thinking age. I’m looking at feelings for connections. It’s the chemistry." In a sign the season will not shy away from controversy, he explained that his earlier comments were a misstep and that the conversation around age sparked by some contestants’ criticisms would be addressed as the journey unfolds. By the episode's close, Owens had begun to narrow the field, sending home 10 women: Maia, 58; Susie, 62; Lisa, 66; Tracy, 62; Lily, 72; Andra, 77; Alexandra, 67; Carla, 62; Diane, 71; and Mylene, 61.
The show’s unusual cross-pollination with the sports world has drawn attention from fans who follow Freeman and his Dodgers closely. Across the baseball diamond, Freeman delivered a standout performance in the season's latest matchup, contributing two home runs and three RBIs as the Dodgers stretched their lead in an 8-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers were set to open a three-game series with the Seattle Mariners in Seattle on Friday, with Freeman and the club looking to maintain momentum as the regular season advances. The juxtaposition of a high-profile athlete and a reality dating program underscores how celebrity and sports cross into broader entertainment conversations, especially in a city with deep ties to both baseball and television.
The cross-connection appears to be a case study in modern celebrity culture: a family member of a well-known athlete entering a show that thrives on personal storytelling, public perception, and the gravity of long-running narratives about love, aging, and new beginnings. Freeman-Branstine's entry into The Golden Bachelor adds a layer of family narrative to the season, inviting fans to watch how her competitive drive and personal history intersect with Owens’ quest for connection. While the ultimate outcome remains to be seen, the season’s premiere has set expectations for heartfelt moments, candid discussions about age and compatibility, and a blend of red-carpet vibes and mansion-life reality that ABC has built into The Golden Bachelor.
[IMAGE: Carol Freeman-Branstine] https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/carol.jpg?w=1024
[IMAGE: Freddie Freeman celebrating] https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/los-angeles-dodgers-infielder-freddie-112127893.jpg?w=1024