RADIO
Freddie Freeman Can Be A Top-20 Player
7 years agoAtlanta Braves first base/third baseman Freddie Freeman is coming off of a strong 2017 season and is looking to maintain his top-25 value. Freeman finished 2017 with a career-best .989 OPS and has now topped a .950 OPS in back-to-back seasons, after posting a .968 OPS in 2016. While Freeman only played 117 games last season due to injury, he still hit 28 home runs, drove in 71, and even stole a career-best eight bases. He also gained positional eligibility for 2018, he is eligible at both first and third base, only making him more valuable for fantasy owners. While his raw statistics were good, Freeman's hard hit balls were at 37.5% (down from 43.5% in 2016 and under his career average of 38.3%) and he hit more ground balls (.86 GB/FB up from .75 in 2016). While there are some statistics that do not look great, he still had 50.1% medium hit balls and maintained a 19.9% HR/FB rate year over year. He also showed an ability to not be neutralized by same sided pitching last season, posting an .880 OPS against left handed pitchers (up from a .771 OPS for his career). Freeman should be drafted no later than the end of the 2nd round and his dual eligibility gives him potential to be a top-five corner infielder.
