Freddie Freeman
Encyclopedia
Frederick Charles "Freddie" Freeman (born September 12, 1989) is an American professional baseball
first baseman
with the Atlanta Braves
of Major League Baseball
.
, out of El Modena High School
.
He was the Braves' fifth-best prospect heading into the 2009 season, according to Baseball America
, and the 11th-best prospect overall in their midseason top 25.
pitcher Clay Hensley
, and on September 21, 2010, he hit his first home run
off of Philadelphia Phillies
pitcher Roy Halladay
. Freeman was not a part of the Braves' playoff roster.
Freeman began the 2011 season as the starting first baseman for the Braves. After a slow start, his performance improved and he has been mentioned as a strong candidate for rookie of the year. On July 4, 2011, Freeman hit two home runs against the Colorado Rockies, for his first multi-home run game. Freeman was the first Braves rookie to reach 50 RBIs by July 18 since Hank Aaron accomplished this feat in 1954. He was the named NL rookie of the month for July; during that month, Freeman led all Major League rookies with 38 hits, a .362 batting average, and a.433 on-base percentage in July 27 games. He also led all NL rookies with six homers and 17 runs. His 18 RBIs tied for the most in the NL among rookies.
In August, Freeman and Dan Uggla
became the first members of the Braves to have concurrent twenty game hitting streaks in the modern era. Freeman's streak ended at 20 games on August 7.
Freeman finished second to teammate Craig Kimbrel
in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting. Kimbrell and Freeman were the first teammates to finish first and second since 1989, when the Chicago Cubs’ Jerome Walton
and Dwight Smith came in first and second. The only other time two Braves finished in the top five, the organization was still located in Milwaukee--Gene Conley was voted third-best rookie of the 1954 season; Hank Aaron came in fourth.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
with the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Professional career
Freeman was drafted by the Braves in the second round (78th overall) of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft2007 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 7 and June 8, 2007...
, out of El Modena High School
El Modena High School
El Modena High School, also known as called El Mo , is a traditional 4 year public high school located in the El Modena neighborhood in the eastern portion of the city of Orange in Orange County, California....
.
He was the Braves' fifth-best prospect heading into the 2009 season, according to Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
, and the 11th-best prospect overall in their midseason top 25.
Major Leagues
Freeman was called up to the Braves on September 1, 2010, as part of the team's September call-ups, and made his major league debut that same day. On September 5, 2010 he got his first career hit off of Florida MarlinsFlorida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
pitcher Clay Hensley
Clay Hensley
Clayton Allen Hensley is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Miami Marlins.-Early life:Hensley attended Lamar University in Beaumont, where he set a single season record with 127 strikeouts in 100 innings....
, and on September 21, 2010, he hit his first home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
off of Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
pitcher Roy Halladay
Roy Halladay
Harry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III , nicknamed "Doc", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies...
. Freeman was not a part of the Braves' playoff roster.
Freeman began the 2011 season as the starting first baseman for the Braves. After a slow start, his performance improved and he has been mentioned as a strong candidate for rookie of the year. On July 4, 2011, Freeman hit two home runs against the Colorado Rockies, for his first multi-home run game. Freeman was the first Braves rookie to reach 50 RBIs by July 18 since Hank Aaron accomplished this feat in 1954. He was the named NL rookie of the month for July; during that month, Freeman led all Major League rookies with 38 hits, a .362 batting average, and a.433 on-base percentage in July 27 games. He also led all NL rookies with six homers and 17 runs. His 18 RBIs tied for the most in the NL among rookies.
In August, Freeman and Dan Uggla
Dan Uggla
Daniel Cooley Uggla is an American professional baseball second baseman with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball....
became the first members of the Braves to have concurrent twenty game hitting streaks in the modern era. Freeman's streak ended at 20 games on August 7.
Freeman finished second to teammate Craig Kimbrel
Craig Kimbrel
Craig Michael Kimbrel is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. Breaking the record for saves by a rookie in the 2011 season, Kimbrel was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award for the National League....
in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting. Kimbrell and Freeman were the first teammates to finish first and second since 1989, when the Chicago Cubs’ Jerome Walton
Jerome Walton
Jerome O'Terrell Walton is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs , California Angels , Cincinnati Reds , Atlanta Braves , Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
and Dwight Smith came in first and second. The only other time two Braves finished in the top five, the organization was still located in Milwaukee--Gene Conley was voted third-best rookie of the 1954 season; Hank Aaron came in fourth.