The Braves hit six home runs in their first 28 games. No other team has fewer than 20 homers.
The man who hit more home runs than anyone in Braves history is not surprised by the team’s lack of power.
“We talked about this in spring training. We all knew there weren’t going to be many power hitters,” Hall of Fame slugger Hank Aaron said Saturday at graduation ceremonies at Young Harris College. “This was going to be a team built around pitching. Even now, the pitching kind of goes up and down. They’re not going to hit many home runs.”
First baseman Freddie Freeman is responsible for three of the Braves’ home runs, heading into Saturday night’s game against Arizona. Aaron hopes fans don’t put too much pressure on Freeman to provide all the power.
“He can’t do it all by himself,” Aaron said. “He’s doing the best he can.”
Aaron delivered the commencement speech Saturday to the largest graduating class in Young Harris history, approximately 187 students. He received a standing ovation after his 17-minute speech and was presented with an honorary doctorate by Young Harris President Cathy Cox.
