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Atlanta Braves: Five Reasons They Can Be Surprise Contenders

By Kit Anderson

Apr 16, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte (11) celebrates after he hit a solo home run as San Diego Padres catcher Hector Sanchez (44) is shown on the play in the seventh inning of their game at SunTrust Park. The Braves won 9-2. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte (11) celebrates after he hit a solo home run as San Diego Padres catcher Hector Sanchez (44) is shown on the play in the seventh inning of their game at SunTrust Park. The Braves won 9-2. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 31, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) rounds second on a home run against the New York Yankees in the third inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) rounds second on a home run against the New York Yankees in the third inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
  1. Freddie Freeman Plays at an MVP Level

Freddie Freeman is the Braves best player and the face of the franchise. If the Braves are going to stay in the postseason race it is going to take Freddie Freeman playing at an MVP level for the majority of the season. That doesn’t mean he has to win the MVP for the Braves to compete only that he is going to have to have an MVP worthy season and lead the Braves offense.

If Freeman cannot stay healthy or at least match the production that he had for the latter half of the 2016 season the Braves are not going to be in contention. Freeman is entering the prime of his career and is going to have to continue to knock the ball out of the park with regularity.

As the rebuild continues to progress the Braves are looking wiser by the day for sticking with Freddie Freeman and opting to build around the big first baseman instead of making him a part of the trade exodus.

Freeman is more than capable of winning an MVP and if the Braves want to contend he is going to have to stay in the running.

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