The Braves had four players make the 2020 All-MLB team, which was announced Wednesday night. They led the majors with three players on the first team.
MLB established first- and second-team honors last winter, mirroring a similar process done in the NFL and NBA. The teams feature a catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, three outfielders, five starters and two relievers.
Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who won National League MVP, was named the first-team All-MLB first baseman. Marcell Ozuna was named first-team All-MLB designated hitter. Left-hander Max Fried was named one of the first-team starters. Outfielder Ronald Acuna made the second team.
Freeman was the best player in baseball, hitting .341/.462/.640 while providing his usual stellar defense. He was the centerpiece of an offense that would’ve shattered franchise records during a normal 162-game season. Freeman won the NL MVP, Silver Slugger and Hank Aaron Award.
Ozuna joined Freeman to form the Braves’ modern version of the Bash Brothers. Ozuna, who is a free agent, had the best season of his career, hitting .338/.431/.636 and leading the NL with 18 homers and 56 RBIs.
Fried had a breakthrough season, going 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 11 outings. He provided desperately needed consistency in a rotation that couldn’t find any semblance of consistency outside its ace. Fried’s emergence gives the Braves a tantalizing three-headed monster atop their future rotation in Mike Soroka, Ian Anderson and Fried.
Acuna hit .250/.406/.581 with 14 homers and 29 RBIs in 46 games. He achieved such despite battling a sore wrist for much of the season. Acuna continued to dazzle as one of baseball’s more exciting players and leadoff hitters. The 22-year-old split time between right and center field.
The All-MLB determination process included 50% fan voting and 50% panel voting. The voting began in early November. Below are the teams, as listed by MLB.com.
FIRST TEAM
C: Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: Freddie Freeman, Braves
2B: DJ LeMahieu, Yankees
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
3B: Manny Machado, Padres
OF: Mookie Betts, Dodgers
OF: Mike Trout, Angels
OF: Juan Soto, Nationals
DH: Marcell Ozuna, Braves
SP: Shane Bieber, Indians
SP: Trevor Bauer, Reds
SP: Yu Darvish, Cubs
SP: Max Fried, Braves
SP: Jacob deGrom, Mets
RP: Liam Hendriks, A’s
RP: Nick Anderson, Rays
SECOND TEAM
C: J.T. Realmuto, Phillies
1B: Jose Abreu, White Sox
2B: Brandon Lowe, Rays
SS: Corey Seager, Dodgers
3B: Jose Ramirez, Indians
OF: Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves
OF: Mike Yastrzemski, Giants
OF: Michael Conforto, Mets
DH: Nelson Cruz, Twins
SP: Dinelson Lamet, Padres
SP: Gerrit Cole, Yankees
SP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
SP: Kenta Maeda, Twins
SP: Hyun Jin Ryu, Blue Jays
RP: Brad Hand, Indians
RP: Devin Williams, Brewers
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