Freddie Freeman: Return to All-Star Form in 2016?

Atlanta Braves’ first-baseman Freddie Freeman is a 2-time National League All-Star and one of the best pure hitters in the game.

During the 2015 season, Freddie Freeman has struggled with injuries, which includes two separate stints on the Disabled List for an injured wrist and a tweaked oblique. In addition to succumbing to multiple injuries, Freddie Freeman has also struggled at the plate, with having a the second worst batting average of his career this season.

Freddie Freeman is currently hitting .283 on the season, which is by no means poor, but is uncharacteristically low for the Braves first-baseman. Freeman is also struggling against left-handed pitching, hitting only .237 against southpaws. Freeman has never historically struggled against left-handers in his career.

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Because of the Atlanta Braves lack of offensive weapons, Freddie Freeman has little to no protection in the lineup, making him more apt to chase pitches out of the zone and try to do more offensively by himself. Because of this, his numbers have marginally slipped, making him have an uncharacteristically mediocre season (by his past standards).

The question is despite his injury riddled season and lack of protection in the lineup, can Freddie Freeman return to his usual All-Star form that enabled him to receive an 8-year, $135 million extension before the 2014 season?

Of course Freddie Freeman can return to that form, given the Atlanta Braves’ front-office makes a concerted effort to surround him with other bats in the lineup, providing him with better situations to fit his skill-set. One such move that the Braves executed this season was acquiring third-baseman Hector Olivera from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Alex Wood, Jim Johnson, Luis Avilan and top prospect Jose Peraza.

“If the Braves front-office can put the right pieces in place next season, Freddie Freeman will once again thrive in the middle of the club’s lineup.”

President of Baseball Operations John Hart and Assistant General Manager John Coppolella have raved about Olivera’s abilities at the plate, asserting that he will be a key cog in the Braves offense for years to come, and is capable of hitting 20 home-runs and hitting .300 annually.

While the addition of another capable hitter is fortunate for the Atlanta Braves, the acquisition of Hector Olivera will not be enough to help Freddie Freeman return to his All-Star form. Freeman thrived as a part of lineup that feature the likes of Justin Upton, Jason Heyward, Brian McCann and Evan Gattis, providing him with the protection he needed to be the key run manufacturer for the Braves.

Without Upton, Heyward and Gattis this season, Freddie Freeman is alone in a Braves lineup where no player has more than 55 RBI’s. The Braves run differential is indicative of this, as it is currently the second worst in baseball at minus 181.

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