FOXSportsSouth.com invites you to meet the Braves as we continue a month-long look at our team, player-by-player. We'll revisit 2011 and project what 2012 might look like.
Freddie Freeman
Position: 1B
Height: 6-5; Weight: 225
Bat/Throw: L/R
Hometown: Villa Park, Calif.
Experience: Second season
2011 in review: Freeman was handed the starting first base position and recovered from a slow start to hit .282 with 21 home runs and 76 RBIs and finish behind teammate Craig Kimbrel in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. His average improved in the second half of the season, when he hit .292.
Career highlight: He had his first major league hit on Sept. 5, 2010 and Freeman hit his first major league home run off Philadelphia ace Roy Halladay on Sept. 21 of that year.
Outlook: A minor knee injury hampered Freeman early in spring training, but he has recovered. He added 15-20 pounds in the offseason – although he’s still listed at 225 pounds -- and is being counted on to provide left-handed power and improve on his rookie numbers, even though he won’t be 23 until Sept. 12.
You should know: Freeman became the first Braves rookie to drive in 50 runs by July 18 since Hank Aaron in 1954.
