Projected stats for 9 Braves in 2015

Atlanta Braves

MLB.com projected 2015 stats for more than 800 players in baseball, and ranked each player based on their possible output (along with their current fantasy value). Here is where nine Atlanta Braves players fall among other baseball stars:

No. 44, FREDDIE FREEMAN, 1B: Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman led the majors with a 34 percent line-drive rate in 2014, according to MLB.com. In addition he walked in a career-high 12.7 percent of his plate appearances. MLB projects Freeman will see a boost in power, but will, however, see fewer at-bats (562). He is projected to raise his batting average to .295 with 91 hits, 23 homers, 88 RBIs and a bumped up .378 OBP and .489 slugging percentage.

No. 57, CRAIG KIMBREL, RHP: The first reliever on MLB's list, Braves closer Craig Kimbrel has 42 or more saves in each of the last three seasons. In that span, no big leaguer with at least 250 innings has notched an opponents’ batting average lower than Kimbrel’s .155 mark. Kimbrel is projected to finish 2015 with 40 saves, a 3-1 record, a 1.89 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 62 innings.

No. 66, JULIO TEHERAN, RHP: Julio Teheran posted a 2.89 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in 221 innings in his first full season as a Braves starter. The 24-year-old had the 11th-best strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.6) in the National League and is projected to have another stellar year in 2015 by MLB: 14-11/3.39 ERA/191 K's across 218 innings.

No. 103, ALEX WOOD, LHP: Finishing with the best line-drive rate (21 percent) and the ninth-best strikeout-to-walk-ratio (3.8), according MLB.com, Alex Wood posted a 2.78 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP and 170 K’s in 171-2/3 innings. The left-hander's projected 2015 stats are 12-11 record, 3.17 ERA, with 183 strikeouts over 190 innings pitched.

No. 226, SHELBY MILLER, RHP: The Braves acquired Shelby Miller from the Cardinals in the trade for outfielder Jason Heyward (No. 27 in MLB's rankings). Miller is coming off a down year in which he went 10-9, with a 3.74 ERA in 183 innings. The 24-year-0ld right hander is projected by MLB to finish 2015 with a 11-12 record, 3.69 ERA, 160 strikeouts in 192 innings pitched.

No. 248, MIKE MINOR, LHP: Shoulder discomfort limited Braves lefthander Mike Minor in 2014 to a 4.77 ERA with a 1.3 HR/9 rate in 145-1/3 innings. MLB projects Minor - with improved health - to make a quick turnaround in 2015 and go 10-12 with a 3.84 ERA, 153 strikeouts in 185 innings.

No. 323, ANDRELTON SIMMONS, SS: One of baseball's best defensive players, Andrelton Simmon's offense draw as much praise. After two straight seasons of a below-.300 on-base percentage, Simmons is projected to spike it t0 .303 while hitting 2.51 with 12 homers, 56 RBIs and an improved .679 OPS.

Atlanta Braves newest outfielder Nick Markakis speaks with reporters in the baseball team's clubhouse, Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, in Atlanta. Markakis signed a four-year contract with the team on Wednesday. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

No. 427, B.J. UPTON, OF: Since his arrival from Tampa two seasons ago, B.J. Upton has produced 21 homers, 32 stolen bases, along with a paltry .198 batting average. After posting the fifth-worst contact rate (66.4 percent) in the majors in 2014, MLB sees a better 2015 and projects Upton will finish 2015 with a .219 batting average, 55 runs, 10 homers, 35 RBIs, 17 stolen bases and a healthier .293 on-base percentage.

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