Report date set for Braves’ pitchers and catchers

Frederick Charles Freeman was born Sept. 12, 1989 in Fountain Valley, Calif. The Braves selected Freeman in the second round (78th overall) of the 2007 draft. Freeman made his major league debut Sept. 1, 2010 against the Mets. He was 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Freeman was hitless in his first six at-bats before his single to center in the ninth inning of his fourth game. Freeman’s first hit came off Clay Hensley on Sept. 5, 2010. Freeman was 4-for-24 in that 2010 call-up, with a home run and an RBI. The

Braves pitchers and catchers will report in 78 days.

The date for that magical baseball phrase, Friday, Feb. 15, was announced by the team Thursday afternoon.

The first workout for pitchers and catchers is scheduled for the next day.

Position players are scheduled to report Feb. 20, with the first full-squad workout the next day.

The Braves will play their first Grapefruit League game Feb. 23, a Saturday, against the Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The first home spring game, at Disney Wide World of Sports, is set for Feb. 25 against the Nationals.

The Braves' final game in Florida for the year will come March 24 against the Rays in North Port, which becomes the Braves' spring training home in 2020.

» More: Braves' new North Port, Fla., facility

The Braves will play two exhibition games at SunTrust Park against the Reds on March 25 and March 26.

The regular-season opener is scheduled for Thursday, March 28 at the Phillies, and the home opener comes April 1 against the Cubs.