Fansided

MLB power rankings: Best player on each team

By Brad Berreman

Apr 17, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 17, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 30
Next
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Braves: 1B Freddie Freeman

After a couple of down years offensively, Freeman rebounded nicely last year with a .302/.400/.569 slash-line, 34 home runs and 91 RBI. The career-high in home runs also came with the highest strikeout total of his career (171), but the power surge is something the Braves will surely take as a trade off in the middle of their lineup. As long as it sustains like that similarly going forward, of course.

Freeman is off to a good start this season, and at 27 years old (28 in September) he should be firmly in his prime entering the most lucrative years of his long-term deal with the Braves. The structure of that contract looks like a pretty shrewd move by the Atlanta front office, as Freeman’s market value stands to change while they’ve locked him up through the 2021 season.

Young shortstop Dansby Swanson may the guy occupying the Braves’ spot on lists like this in future years, and the team surely hopes that is the case as he fulfills his potential. But right now Freeman is clearly the guy that belongs here, as the team’s leader and best player at the start of a new era in a new home ballpark.

Home/MLB