ALL- MLB TEAM FEATURES FOUR BRAVES

The Braves had four players make the 2020 All- MLB team, which was announced Wednesday night. The team led the majors with three players on the fifirst team.

MLB established first- and second- team honors last winter, mirroring a similar process in the NFL and NBA. The teams feature a catcher, fifirst baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, three outfielders, five starters and two relievers.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, the National League MVP, was named the first- team All- MLB first baseman. Marcell Ozuna was named first- team AllMLB designated hitter. Lefthander Max Fried was named one of the first- team starters. Outfifielder Ronald Acuna made the second team.

Freeman was the best player in baseball, hitting .341/. 462/. 640 while providing his usual stellar defense. He was the centerpiece of an offen se that would’ve shattered franchise records during a normal 162- game season. Along with the NL MVP, Freeman won the Silver Slugger and Hank Aaron awards.

Ozuna joined Freeman to form the Braves’ modern version of the Bash Brothers. Ozuna, who is a free agent, had the best season of his career, hitting .338/. 431/. 636 and leading the NL with 18 homers and 56 RBIS.

Fried had a breakthrough season, going 7- 0 with a 2.25 ERA in 11 outings. He provided desperately needed consistency in a rotation that couldn’t fifind any semblance of consistency outside its ace. Fried’s emergence gives the Braves a tantalizing three- headed monster atop their future rotation, together with Mike Soroka and Ian Anderson.

Acuna hit .250/. 406/. 581 with 14 homers and 29 RBIS in 46 games. He achieved that despite battling a sore wrist for much of the season. Acuna continued to dazzle as one of baseball’s more exciting players and leadoff hitters. The 22- year- old split time between right and center fifield.

The All- MLB determination process included 50% fan voting and 50% panel voting. The voting began in early November.

PHOTOS BY CURTIS COMPTON/ AJC 2020 Braves fifirst baseman and National League MVP Freddie Freeman has one more accolade to add to his pile for 2020 after he was named Wednesday to the All- MLB fifirst team.