Freddie Freeman is back!
He stepped out of the Atlanta Braves dugout and simply said, "This is wonderful."
Yes, it is, Freddie Freeman. Yes it is.
The Braves first baseman is back, almost two weeks after word broke that Freeman had tested positive for COVID-19, he walked onto the Truist Park field to start the process of his preparation for the 2020 season.
And sources have told BravesCentral.com that if nothing happens to interfere with Freeman's process in the next seven days, the team believes he will be in the starting lineup a week from now when the Braves take on the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Freeman took grounders and hit a round of batting practice Friday afternoon. He is expected to meet with the media Saturday afternoon before the Braves play another intrasquad game.
The Braves were looking thin with left-handed batters with Freeman's status in doubt and the departure of Nick Markakis, who opted out the day after he spoke with an ill Freeman on the phone.
Now, with Freeman back, the team will again have one of the top three players to start a game in the lineup, as Ronald Acuna will lead off, followed by Ozzie Albies and then Freeman.
It will also allow Marcell Ozuna to hit fourth. Manager Brian Snitker had hit Ozuna third in some of the scrimmages this week.
Just a few minutes after the Freeman news broke, BravesCentral.com reported on Twitter that the agreement the Braves had with Yasiel Puig was in jeopardy. And then Puig announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and would not be signing at this time.
The Braves will likely take a wait-and-see approach on Puig. They may find in two weeks, or when Puig tests negative and could be ready to sign once again, that they don't need him. Or they might want to add Puig for additional depth.
Even if Puig is not there, the Braves lineup should be very strong. Here is one possibility:
RONALD ACUNA - CF
OZZIE ALBIES - 2B
FREDDIE FREEMAN - 1B
MARCELL OZUNA - DH
AUSTIN RILEY - LF
JOHAN CAMARGO - 3B
TRAVIS D'ARNAUD - C
ADAM DUVALL - RF
DANSBY SWANSON - SS
This is just one possibility. Of course, the Braves could use Ender Inciarte in center field, with either Ozuna or Duvall in left field and Acuna in right.
Either way, the Braves lineup will be a whole lot better with Freeman penciled in the three spot in the batting order.
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