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Freddie Freeman Wrist Injury Still an Issue

By John Buhler

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According to Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Braves 1B Freddie Freeman isn’t ready to come back from the Disabled List on August 1st like the organization had hoped.  Braves’ President of Baseball Operations John Hart told Schultz this news of Freeman’s setback.

Even after plasma-rich platelet injections, Freddie Freeman’s injured right wrist will likely keep him on the DL for at least another two weeks.  He was eligible to come off the DL on Friday against the Chicago Cubs but now that seems highly unlikely.

-= Related: Freddie Freeman Injury Update: Not Good News! =-

Atlanta needs its franchise player back in the lineup badly.  Without Freeman in the middle of the order, the Braves’ bats often go to sleep, providing little to no power.  The Braves only managed to score 12 runs in a four game set with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.  To me that is more shocking than seeing a team score 12 runs in a game in the Mile High City.

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But with John Hart’s plan for the Atlanta Braves, “two eyes on the future, one on the present”, I am in total support of not rushing Freddie Freeman back from the Disabled List until he’s at close to 100%.  Though it likely pains “Every Day” Freddie to not play first base and bat third every single game for his Skipper Fredi Gonzalez, we have to look at the big picture here.

The Atlanta Braves set five games below .500 heading into the second half, and seven back of first place Washington in the NL East.  While the Senior Circuit is incredibly top-heavy (St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, etc.), Atlanta is at best middle of the pack in 2015.  That’s okay given that many pundits believed this year’s Atlanta Braves team would lose close to 100 games.  I don’t believe that’s happening.  Atlanta will likely stay close to .500 for the rest of the year, even as sellers at the trade deadline.

When Freddie does return, don’t expect him to have the home run power he had prior to the wrist injury suffered in Citi Field against the New York Mets over a month ago.  I think that he will still hit for a high average when inserted in the everyday lineup some time in Mid-August.  He just probably won’t finish the season with 20 home runs for the 2015 Atlanta Braves.

In the meantime, the Kelly Johnson and Chris Johnson have done a decent job of manning first base in Freeman’s absence.  But defensively it’s not the same without Freddie Freeman and the batting order lacks bite without him in it.  Hopefully the Atlanta Braves can continue to tread water in Freddie’s extended stint on the DL.  I really hope he doesn’t come back to a team that is ten games under .500.

Next: Atlanta Braves: Five Second Half Predictions

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