Atlanta Braves: Freddie Freeman Poised To Take Over At First for the Team

While the American and National League Rookie of the Year award winners for 2010 will be announced later in the week, it’s never too early to start looking at guys who could be potential favorites to win the awards in 2011. The Atlanta Braves have a serious ROY candidate in 2010 in the name of Jason Heyward and could have another one in 2011.

With Derrek Lee and Troy Glaus free agents, it appears that super prospect Freddie Freeman is poised to take over at first for the Braves. Like Heyward, Freeman is a big, left-handed slugger, who even at the young age of 21, has great discipline and a good eye at the plate.

Freeman will get his shot in 2011

Unlike Heyward, I think Freeman will develop as more of a linedrive hitter than the power guy I think Heyward will be. He reminds me of a left-handed Billy Butler.

The Braves sent Freeman to the Arizona Fall League and after five games, Freeman sprained his left thumb while sliding into third base. Atlanta has shut down this fall in the hopes that Freeman is 100 percent healthy come spring training.

As long as Freeman doesn’t fall flat on his face during spring training, he will be the Braves’ starting first baseman in 2011 and a favorite to win the NL ROY award.

Here are some other facts about Freddie Freeman…

Age: 21

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

College: None. Went to El Modena High School in Orange County, CA

Drafted: 2nd round of the 2007 Draft

Minor League Stats:

2007 Rookie: .268/.295/.379 with six HR’s in 59 games

2008 Single A: .316/.378/.521 with 18 HR’s in 130 games

2009 High Single A & Double A: .282/.363/.408 with eight HR’s in 111 games

2010 Triple A: .319/.378/.521 with 18 HR’s in 124 games

Keith Law Ranking and Analysis

Ranking: No. 67 out of 100 best prospects in baseball in 2010

Analysis: “Freeman is yet another former two-way star on this list — if you’re a legitimate prospect as both a position player and a pitcher, you’re probably a pretty good athlete and offer more upside than the typical one-way prospect. At the plate, he sets up with a wide base and doesn’t stride or really transfer his weight through his swing. So while he has good rotation to hit for power, he’s mostly hands at this point and has traded some power for high contact rates.

Unlike a lot of young left-handed hitters, he shows no appreciable platoon split, and while he’s not exactly patient, he’s not a hacker. Freeman is an above-average defender at first base, and there’s some reason to expect more growth as a hitter given his youth and frame. But I still see him as a guy who’ll hit for average with doubles power, but not the high OBP or home run totals that would make him a star at first base.”

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