Freddie Freeman stepped up to face Houston’s Justin Verlander — with an earpiece and mic — full of confidence for his first at-bat of the 2019 All Star Game in Cleveland.
The Braves slugger was going to provide an onfield play-by-play and assumed Fox commentators in the booth would announce in his ear Verlander’s pitch selection.
“They’re going to tell me what’s coming,” he yelled to Verlander from the box.
But he already knew it was going to be “the heater.” Listen:
Verlander made quick work of Atlanta’s first baseman, striking him out on four pitches — the punchout throw a breaking ball, not “the heater.” Freeman reached base on a walk his next time up.
Teammate Ronald Acuna struck out in both his plate appearances. Rookie Mike Soroka pitched a scoreless sixth inning in the NL’s 4-3 loss.
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