It will take more time before the Braves know if the big investments they made in Julio Teheran, Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman will pay off.
Until then, the National League All-Star team announced on Sunday provided more evidence of short-term dividends the team already is enjoying.
Staff ace Teheran, closer Kimbrel and first baseman Freeman were selected to the NL team announced on Sunday evening. All three were picked by a vote of fellow players.
The 85th All-Star game will be played July 15 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
It’s the first All-Star selection for Teheran. Kimbrel was picked for the fourth time in a row and Freeman is an All-Star for the second consecutive season.
The trio is among those the Braves signed to long-term contracts last winter. Teheran signed for $32 million over six years, Kimbrel for $42 million over four years and Freeman for $125 million over eight years.
The Braves have all three under contract through the 2018 season.
“Hopefully Kimbrel’s four (selections) turns into about seven or eight and Freeman continues to go to All-Star games and Julio does the same thing,” said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who will be on the NL’s coaching staff. “That would be a great thing. I know we’re real proud of them as an organization.”
Teheran emerged as a premier starter last year, his first full season in the majors, and he’s been even better this year. Teheran entered Sunday ranked third in the NL with a 2.29 ERA, tied for second in shutouts (two), second in innings pitched (126), fourth in opponents batting average (.208) and eighth in strikeouts (108).
By signing him to a multi-year contract after just one full season, the Braves took a chance that Teheran would continue to improve.
“I think the contract was fundamental in this first half,” Teheran said in Spanish. “It’s a big deal and I feel more comfortable now pitching. Every game I go out there and try to enjoy the game.”
Freeman slumped in late May, hitting .189 with eight RBIs during a 24-game stretch. But he came alive over his past 21 games while batting .361 (30-for-83) with 12 extra-base hits and a .421 on-base percentage.
Freeman, 24, didn’t get to participate in last year’s All-Star game because of injury.
“It’s been definitely an up-and-down season for me,” Freeman said. “You never think it’s (the All-Star selection) going to happen once but for it to happen two times in a row now, it’s definitely something that’s going to be special. I hope that I can experience the whole thing this time around.”
Kimbrel, 26, has been picked for the All-Star game in each of his four seasons as the Braves’ closer. This year, he’s converted 27 of 31 save opportunities and has a 2.04 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings.
“It will be fun,” Kimbrel said. “That’s all you can take from this. At the end of the day, it’s deserved, so you have fun with it.”
Staff writer Erica A. Hernandez contributed to this article.
