Latest news with #Braves
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Braves' Big Reason To Trade Slugging Bat Amid Tumultuous Season
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Atlanta Braves' season hasn't gone as they had hoped after just narrowly missing out on the playoffs last year. The Braves are entering the second half of the season in fourth place in the National League East and with little hope of clawing back into the playoff race, are presumably preparing to sell at the deadline. ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 12: Marcell Ozuna #20 of the Atlanta Braves bats against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 12: Marcell Ozuna #20 of the Atlanta Braves bats against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. Photo byThe Braves have said that they want to be competitive again next season, and therefore many of their club-controlled players will be staying put. That, however, does not include the expiring contract of Marcell Ozuna, who has declined slightly this season but is still a daunting bat in the heart of any lineup. Mark Powell of FanSided provides an intriguing proposition as to why the Braves should move Ozuna as soon as they can; that reason is Drake Baldwin. The Braves have plenty to gain by opening the door for their rookie catcher to garner more playing time in the second half. Not only would the experience allow for the youngster to grow, but the Braves can earn a first-round comp pick in next year's draft if Baldwin were to beat out Jacob Misiorowski for the National League Rookie of the Year. Baldwin has hit .279 during his rookie campaign with 11 home runs in just 65 games played. Baldwin has a long way to go, along with needing Misiorowski to struggle in the second half to win the award, but it isn't impossible. While not at his peak anymore, Ozuna will still require a healthy return for the Braves to part with him, along with allowing Baldwin to see more at-bats in the designated hitter role. Moving Ozuna looks like a no-brainer for the Braves. More MLB: Cubs Offseason Addition Doesn't Advance Extension Talks In Recent Comments
Los Angeles Times
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Freddie Freeman MLB Network documentary showcases storied career, and his vulnerability
A young Freddie Freeman slipped down a water slide, two orange inflatable floaties hoisting his arms — and body weight — above the water. 'Here comes Freddie,' calls out Rosemary Freeman, Freddie's mother, early in the MLB Network Presents documentary 'Driven: The Freddie Freeman Story' — set to debut on MLB Network on Thursday at 5 p.m. Pacific (and will re-run at 9:30 p.m.). The moment of archival footage, coordinating producer Jed Tuminaro said, caused Freddie Freeman to choke up watching his late mother — who died when the Dodgers star first baseman was 10 years old — say his name. Freeman wears his emotions on his sleeve, and in 'Driven: The Freddie Freeman Story,' the 35-year-old showcases vulnerability about his journey from Atlanta to Los Angeles, his son Max's encounter with Guillain-Barré syndrome and most recently his World Series Most Valuable Player heroics. 'He'll cry on the field, he'll cry away from the field,' said Paul Solga, a producer on the documentary. 'Going back through the interview, that was the best stuff, and that was the stuff that really popped out from his interview. When we were putting it all together, that stuff rose to the top, and we thought it was a great way to showcase not only the player, but the person.' Freddie Freeman, the teammate, is a through-line throughout the documentary. Near the end of the documentary, Freeman says, 'When you talk to people about former players, it's not usually about Oh, was he a good player?... Was he a good dude?' The production crew interviewed a handful of former and current teammates who convey the latter. Freeman's best friend in baseball, Jason Heyward — who played with Freeman on both the Braves and the Dodgers — as well as Dansby Swanson, Mookie Betts and Justin Turner, all speak to Freeman's journey across 16 years in the pros, a career that's still ongoing. Even both managers Freeman won a World Series with, Brian Snitker of the Braves and the Dodgers' Dave Roberts, have plenty to say about not only the ballplayer he is, but emphasized the person, and what he brings to the clubhouse. 'A lot of times, if you get teammates, they give you some nice stuff,' Tuminaro said, adding that this is just the third documentary they've produced on a current player (Mike Trout and Fernando Tatis Jr. being the others). 'Oh, he hits to all fields and he makes a great play, and that's fine, and that's nice. We need that stuff. But what stood out to me, almost everybody in this, but especially teammates, seemed like they were speaking more to the person, quite often, than the ball player.' If Freddie Freeman wasn't enough of a jumping-off point for the documentary, the filmmakers interviewed his father, Fred Freeman, a source that provided a 'gold mine' of information. Tuminaro said that it's hard not to be drawn to the anecdotes and personality of Fred Freeman, an energetic and soft-spoken man, much like his son. When Solga was in Fred Freeman's home, interviewing him, he asked if there were any home tapes — archival footage — that the documentary crew could see. Fred trekked up the stairs of his home and trotted back down with an envelope filled with flash drives and photos. 'He goes, 'Here, take a look, take whatever you'd like,'' Solga said. 'And I was like, 'Are you serious?'' Tuminaro said that Fred Freeman is at the center of two of his favorite moments in the documentary — some parental honesty after Freddie's injuries throughout the 2024 postseason, and then pure glee following his son's iconic 2024 World Series grand slam. 'He provided a raw sense of emotion that I think only someone in his position could do,' Tuminaro said. Solga said that many of the documentaries MLB Network creates are focused on players of an older generation, and they come up in an era where there's less of a trail of images and videos to forage through. With Freddie, whether it was Fred or Rosemary handling the camcorder, you could see Freeman grow from a toddler to a pre-teen practicing an early version of his signature swing. The 90-minute documentary takes the viewer through Freeman's full career: loss in childhood, the decision to forgo a college commitment at Cal State Fullerton for the MLB Draft, all the way to MLB. But what fans will probably leave with after watching is another perspective on Freddie Freeman — one that pulls back the curtain on a player not often outspoken about issues beyond the ballpark. 'There are just so many ups and downs in his story, and I'm not sure if everyone's really aware of that,' Tuminaro said. 'And so many of these great moments, he's had to overcome some adversity to achieve that. … what it takes to overcome that adversity and deliver in those big moments.'
Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Marlins' Norby out awhile after wrist surgery. Here's the plan now
Third baseman Connor Norby, who began his Marlins career with considerable progress but regressed somewhat this season, will miss six to eight weeks after underdoing wrist surgery this week, the team said. Norby met this week with a physician in Arizona, and surgery was recommended to repair a wrist injury that began bothering him during last Friday's game in Baltimore. Wednesday's procedure repaired a broken hamate bone in his left hand. The injury was diagnosed initially as left wrist inflammation. If he needs eight weeks to recover, he would return for the final two weeks of the regular season. Acquired with Kyle Stowers from Baltimore in exchange for Trevor Rogers, Norby initially thrived last summer, hitting 247 with a .315 on base average, seven homers and 17 RBI and eight doubles in 36 games. But Stowers - who struggled badly after the trade - blossomed into an All Star this year while Norby took a step back, hitting .241, .with a 289 on base average, six homers, 26 RBI and 73 strikeouts in 72 games. He had just 14 walks in 273 plate appearances this season, compared with 15 walks in 162 plate appearances after joining the Marlins last season. A converted second baseman, Norby had six errors in 68 games at shortstop this season. Norby, 25, is expected to be given a chance to compete for the starting third base job next season, though the Marlins likely will bring in competition. In his absence, the Marlins will rely primarily on Graham Pauley (who has played 23 games at third base and filled in when Norby missed time with an oblique injury earlier this season) and Javier Sanoja, who has played nine games at third this season. Pauley is hitting. 200 (.258 on base) in 94 plate appearances. Sanoja is hitting .230 (.278) in 198 plate appearances. Trade made The Marlins acquired pitcher Michael Peterson from the Braves for cash considerations and sent him to Triple A Jacksonville. He a 3.13 ERA in 20 relief appearances for Atlanta's Triple A team this season. He pitched five games for the Marlins last season, posting a 4.76 ERA. To make room on the 40-man roster, pitcher Jesus Tinoco was placed on the 60-day injured list.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Braves legend John Smoltz on being star struck
The MLB All-Star can cause some to be starstruck. And it's not just the fans. FOX 5's Ron Gant got a chance to meet up with another former Braves player, John Smoltz, ahead of the MLB All-Star Game.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Braves Receive Chris Sale Injury Update on Wednesday
Braves Receive Chris Sale Injury Update on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Left-handed starting pitcher Chris Sale is in his 15th MLB season after debuting with the Chicago White Sox in 2010. The 36-year-old veteran began his first two years in the big-leagues as a reliever but transitioned to a starter in 2012. Over his first seven years as a starter—splitting time between the White Sox and the Boston Red Sox, who acquired him in a 2016 trade—Sale established himself as one of baseball's most consistent arms. From 2012 through 2018, he made the All-Star team each season and finished in the top six of Cy Young voting every year. After battling injuries and starting just 31 games over his final four years in Boston, Sale was traded to the Atlanta Braves and enjoyed a career revival, winning his first Cy Young Award. Sale carried that momentum into 2025 until he suffered a fractured left rib cage while making a diving play against the New York Mets. He landed on the 15-day injured list on June 21 and was moved to the 60-day IL on July 1. On Wednesday, the Braves received an update that Sale played catch yesterday—a promising step in his recovery, even though he won't be eligible to return until after August 19. Over his two seasons in Atlanta, Sale has posted a 2.43 ERA, 339 strikeouts, and a 23–7 record in 44 starts. Decimated by injuries, the Braves have struggled in 2025, sitting at 42–53 and 9.5 games out of a wild-card berth. If Atlanta falls further out of contention, there may be little reason to rush Sale back into the rotation. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
