Streaking Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was named the National League’s Player of the Week on Monday, the third time he’s won the award since mid-June.
Freeman was 11-for-22 with three doubles, two homers and seven RBIs in six games, with a .593 on-base percentage and .909 slugging percentage. He extended his hitting streak to 28 games and his on-base streak to 44 games, the longest active streaks in the majors and the second-longest in each category this season.
When trade rumors began to swirl around Freeman last offseason, Braves general manager John Coppolella said, “I’d give my right arm before we trade Freddie Freeman.” Suffice to say, the Braves today are pleased they didn’t consider offers for their best hitter and franchise player.
“Freddie Freeman is a terrific hitter, he’s one of the best players in the whole game,” Coppolella said Saturday. “And he’s young (27). He’s our guy. As soon as you trade somebody like Freddie Freeman, you’re trying to find somebody like Freddie Freeman.”
Freeman also got his 80th extra-base hit last week, becoming just the second Atlanta-era Braves player to get 80 or more in a season. Chipper Jones had 87 in his 1999 NL MVP season.
During his 44-game on-base streak, Freeman has hit .384 with 17 doubles, 14 homers, 44 RBIs and a .502 OBP and a .755 slugging percentage. In his past 91 games going back to June 13, Freeman has hit .347 with 33 doubles, five triples, 23 homers, a .445 OBP and .673 slugging percentage.
