Freddie Freeman arrives early to camp

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

It should come as no surprise Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was among the early arrivals to spring training.

Position players aren’t required to arrive until Wednesday, but Freeman arrived Friday and held his first media assembly Saturday morning.

Freeman is coming off another excellent season, one which included his first Gold Glove honor. His offense was the usual: .309 with 23 homers and 98 RBIs while playing all 162 games.

The pitchers and catchers held their first workout Saturday. The first full-squad workout is set for Thursday, and the Braves begin the Grapefruit League schedule Feb. 23 against the Mets at Port St. Lucie.