The Atlanta Braves led the way with three players on the All-MLB First Team proving just how special their stellar 2020 season truly was.
The Atlanta Braves led MLB with the most First Team All-MLB selections (San Diego was second with two selections).
Congratulations to @FreddieFreeman5, Marcell Ozuna, @MaxFried32 and @ronaldacunajr24 for being named to the 2020 All-MLB Team!#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/zK14PA9XRT
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 10, 2020
Freddie Freeman, Marcell Ozuna, and Max Fried were honored for their great performances in 2020 with All-MLB First Team selections. Ronald Acuña Jr. was selected for the All-MLB Second Team.
Let us take a look at the Braves who were honored and why they were selected.
Freddie Freeman
Winning the NL MVP award almost guaranteed Freddie this selection. The only roadblock was that the AL MVP, Jose Abreu, also plays First Base.
Freddie held him off though to earn the First Team honors. Adding to his impressive off-season.
#Braves slugger Freddie Freeman, the NL MVP, NL Hank Aaron Award winner and Baseball America and Players Choice MLB Player of the Year, added yet another award today when he was selected as the first baseman on the All-MLB first-team. Among his competition was AL MVP José Abreu.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) December 10, 2020
Freddie Freeman had an impressive season with a .341/.462/.640 slash line. Add in the 13 HR, 51 Runs, 53 RBIs, 187 wrc+, and 3.4 fWAR, and it was pretty clear that Freddie Freeman was deserving of the honor.
Marcell Ozuna
The adoption of the DH in the National League not only benefitted the Atlanta Braves, but also Marcell Ozuna as he beats out Nelson Cruz for the First Team at the Designated Hitter position.
Marcell Ozuna makes it three #Braves on All-MLB first team. The NL home run and RBI leader is the DH on the first team, joins 1B Freddie Freeman and starter Max Fried.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) December 10, 2020
Ozuna finished the year with 18 HR, 38 Runs, 56 RBIs and a .338/.431/.636 line. He also finished with a 179 wrc+ and 2.5 fWAR.
It is easy to see why Ozuna was selected to the All-MLB First Team in 2020. His addition to the middle of the Atlanta Braves lineup transformed the Braves offense into one of the best in the entire league.
This honor should make “The Big Bear’s” off-season a little more exciting as he looks for his next contract.
Max Fried
Most thought Max Fried may end up on the Second Team, but with a 2.25 ERA, 1.089 WHIP, and 1.5 fWAR, Max found himself as one of the five starters to earn First Team honors.
Max Fried took home All-MLB First Team honors.
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) December 10, 2020
That's an ace. pic.twitter.com/8kIgrW74XZ
Maybe the most important accomplishment for Max Fried in 2020 was stabilizing the Braves rotation. Fried provided the team a chance to win every five days, and an opportunity to rest the bullpen that was heavily relied on.
Without Max Fried, it is hard to imagine the Braves making the run to the NLCS this season. Hopefully, Max can carry his 2020 performance into 2021 with what should be a solid rotation behind him.
Ronald Acuña Jr.
Even though Ronald Acuña Jr. missed some time in the shortened 2020 season, he was still impressive enough to land on the All-MLB Second Team.
Career highs in OBP (.406) and SLG (.581) combined with a .250 batting average, 14 HR, 46 R, 29 RBIs, 159 wrc+, and 2.4 fWAR over forty-six games earned him the Second Team honors.
The twenty-two-year-old phenom continues to improve each year and show Braves fans, and baseball fans, that the sky is the limit for the young outfielder.
Moving into 2021
The Braves players making the All-MLB teams show just how good 2020 truly was for Atlanta.
With three of the four players returning to Atlanta next year, the Braves hope to improve on their 2020 season which saw them one win away from a World Series appearance.
The future is bright in Braves Country and hopefully these players have some mantle space for the awards they figure to win over the next few seasons.