Freddie Freeman hits initial spring house run

Just a few days right after starting off to as soon as again experience at ease at the plate, Freddie Freeman was finally reintroduced to the thrill of hitting a property run.

Freeman appeared very snug when he strike a single of his patented reverse-subject dwelling operates in a 16-5 decline to the Rays on Sunday afternoon at Charlotte Sports activities Park in Port Charlotte, Fla. The two-run shot off remaining-hander Jeffrey Springs was the reigning Countrywide League Most Beneficial Player Award winner’s initial property run of the spring.

“He was indicating even with his strikeout [today] he felt superior,” Braves manager Brian Snitker reported. “So, with any luck ,, it’s excellent timing.”

Freeman commenced Sunday’s two-strike functionality with an reverse-discipline double off Rays lefty Ryan Yarbrough in the fourth. He is hitting .206 (7-for-34) with a .694 OPS by means of 15 Grapefruit League online games, but with Opening Day just a handful of days absent, the 31-calendar year-aged 1st baseman has two doubles and a homer in his previous four at-bats.

This has been an emotionally hoping Spring Schooling for Freeman, who talked to MLB.com this week about how difficult it has been to be absent from his wife, Chelsea, who stays in California with the couple’s two latest sons.

In that Q&A, Freeman spoke about how a discussion with his wife led him to return to the Braves’ Spring Education complicated on Tuesday experience substantially much more calm.

“I received to the park the subsequent day, walked in the cage, and immediately after a number of swings, our hitting coach Kevin Seitzer reported, ‘Congrats on your MVP and your two new sons. I’d have instructed you faster, but this is the very first time I have truly seen Freddie Freeman,’” Freeman reported.

Morton likes the DH game
After throwing 3 scoreless innings although producing his ultimate spring tuneup from the Rays on Sunday, Charlie Morton the moment again created it very clear he does not believe baseball is superior with pitchers hoping to act like they can strike.

“It doesn’t advantage me to have a bat in my hands,” Morton mentioned. “So, when I go up there, I’m taking the location of an individual who is grinding in Triple-A or someone who is on the bench who would adore an at-bat. I’m up there with a [.075] profession batting typical. For me, it can take away from the match for any person like me to be up there swinging.”

Morton put in the initial 9 seasons of his career in the NL, but he acquired applied to life with the designated hitter while playing for the Astros and Rays around the earlier four seasons. His 1st job strike was tallied through his initial stint with the Braves. It was a double against D-backs correct-hander Yusmeiro Petit on Aug. 7, 2008.

Morton will have an further working day of rest when he can make his period debut on Saturday in Philadelphia. He did not make it possible for an earned run in any of his three Grapefruit League appearances (10 1/3 innings) this calendar year.

“The ball, to me, is leaping out of his arms,” Snitker mentioned. “I know he variety of feels he demands some fantastic tuning. But I assume he feels very good with his arm, physique and the total point. So, I come to feel definitely, actually excellent about it.”

Jackson heating up
Just one working day soon after mastering he will start the season as the Braves’ backup catcher, Alex Jackson showed his opposite-industry ability. Jackson jumped on Springs with a two-run shot about the correct-center-discipline wall in the seventh.

Jackson has strike just .167 (5-for-30) with two homers this spring, but he’s shown some indicators of offensive existence although likely 4-for-14 with a double and two residence operates heading again to March 20.

“It’s truly encouraging what we’re seeing,” Snitker explained. “We know about the energy and his potential to catch. That kid throws as effectively as anybody in baseball. He’s a genuinely good, superior defensive catcher. We have talked about the call. You never know when a guy is heading to get it heading. It’s Spring Training. So, we’ll see.”