The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Braves’ 1st baseman willing to move to 3rd
Change after he returns from injury offers a way to keep Adams in lineup.
Franchise player Freddie Freeman says he intends to return from the disabled list as a third baseman next month.
When he first heard his friend and former teammate Freddie Freeman might switch from first base to third base so the Braves can keep Matt Adams in the lineup, retired Braves third baseman Chipper Jones had to find out if the rumor was true.
“I got a text (from Jones) last night that said, ‘Seriously?’” Freeman said Wednesday, a day after news first got out about the possibility. “We kind of texted this morning a little bit. I told him I had early work at 2:30 (p.m.) if he wanted to come out. I’ll be doing that every day, so I’m sure he will be out here soon.”
Yes, the move to third base is serious.
While the Braves say the decision isn’t final and they’ll change plans if Freeman’s not comfortable with the move, their franchise player says he fully intends to return from the disabled list as a third baseman when he’s activated next month, either just before or after the AllStar break barring any setbacks in his recovery from a fractured wrist.
The Braves said it was Freeman’s idea after seeing how well Adams performed in his first couple of weeks filling in at first base.
“A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned it to say I’d be willing to move over to third base to accommodate Matt,” said Freeman, who fractured his wrist May 17. “He’s obviously been pretty spectacular for us.”
The possibility became a lot more likely Tuesday when Freeman asked to meet with Braves president of baseball operations John Hart and general manager John Coppolella. He reiterated that not only was he willing to move to third base, but that he wanted to do it and was eager to get started in the process. He was cleared to begin throwing Monday and could be cleared to start hitting Friday.
“I had a couple meetings with Hart and Coppy and then we had a meeting with (Braves manager Brian Snitker) too,” Freeman said. “I said I’m completely on board with it, I want to do it, we’ve got to keep Matt’s bat in the lineup and I’ll do anything to win. This is what it came to. I’ve got a couple weeks until I’m back out there so hopefully I can get (acclimated) with third base pretty good.”
Freeman got his cast removed last week. He began taking ground balls in the indoor batting cage on a rainy Tuesday with infield coach Ron Washington at his side and Wednesday they moved to the field, where Freeman took ground balls at third in a session before most other players arrived.
Freeman will accompany the Braves on their West Coast trip next week so he can keep working daily with Washington.
“It says a lot about him, that your best player wants to do anything he can to help make this club better,” Snitker said. “I think it’s pretty cool.”
Adams has never played any other position in pro ball except a brief trial in left field this spring with the Cardinals, who pulled the plug on it after determining he wouldn’t be able to play the position at an acceptable level. They used him as a pinch hitter before trading him to the Braves after Freeman’s injury.
Freeman played third base in high school and for five games in rookie ball in 2007.
“You watch him playing first base and it’s not like he’s this goon over there that’s not athletic, because his footwork, his arm’s a weapon, his hands are good, he’s an agile kid,” Snitker said. “I told him, ‘You’re not any bigger body-type than Chipper or Kris Bryant, guys like that who are big men and are athletic and can move around.’ Not to say he’s going to play it like Chipper, but there’s no reason, with his hands, arm and athleticism, that he can’t go over there and do a really good job.”
Freeman laughed when asked if he’d had too much to drink when he made the suggestion of moving to third base.
“Obviously it’s been a few years since I’ve played third, but hopefully I can take to it quickly and hopefully refresh my memory from doing it 10 years ago,” he said. “I feel good. I’m confident. I’m going in with a positive attitude.”