Fansided

Best MLB player on each team in 2019

By Joshua Sadlock

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 06: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves runs to first base after a hit against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust on April 06, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 06: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves runs to first base after a hit against the Miami Marlins at SunTrust on April 06, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Braves: Freddie Freeman

The title of best player on the Atlanta Braves roster won’t belong to Freddie Freeman for much longer, but the first baseman still holds onto the top spot while Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies fully establish themselves as generational superstars. At 29, Freeman is the veteran star for the Baby Braves, and he has emerged as one of the best pure hitters in the league despite his lower profile.

As solid as Freeman was after arriving in the big leagues at 20 years old, he has been phenomenal over the past three seasons. He hit .285/.366/.466 with 104 homers and 424 RBI from 2010 to 2015 and was named an All-Star in 2013 and 2014. Power has come the last three seasons, and Freeman is now a threat for 30 homers and 40 doubles a season. Since 2016, he has hit .307/.399/.549 with a per-162 average of 46 doubles, 32 home runs and 96 RBI. His production could continue to spike as the Braves lineup matures around him.

Freeman is an all-around great ballplayer, as evidenced by his Gold Glove win in 2018 and career-high 10 stolen bases. Despite not being quite as “buzzy” as the likes of Manny Machado, Bryce Harper and Kris Bryant, Freeman has been right up there in terms of production with MLB’s biggest superstars.

It is an exciting time for the young Braves, and their lineup, led by Freeman, will continue putting up runs in bunches night after night. Now the veteran of the bunch, Freeman’s star will only continue to grow as he hits in the middle of a championship-caliber lineup.

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