8. Atlanta Braves 2014 All-Stars: Craig Kimbrel, Freddie Freeman, Julio Teheran
By the 2014 All-Star break, the Atlanta Braves were coming off of a 96-win season with a young core in place. They were 52-43 and tied for first as they took a break to celebrate the game of baseball.
While there isn’t a lot we want to celebrate about the second half of 2014 (including the beginning of an eight-game losing streak later in July) we can celebrate the stars who earned All-Star selections for the Braves.
Atlanta Braves 2014 All-Star: Craig Kimbrel
Craig Kimbrel entered the break leading the league in saves. At just 27-years-old, this was his fourth major league season and his fourth All-Star selection. Boy, he sure was fun to watch in a Braves uniform.
Kimbrel finished the 2014 campaign with a minuscule 1.61 ERA and a league-leading 47 saves. He had broken John Smoltz’s franchise saves record of 155 earlier in the season… not bad for a 33rd round draft pick.
Kimbrel entered the game in the seventh inning and struck out the side.
All-Star Credentials: 35.1 IP, 60 SO, 29 SV, 1.91 ERA, .135 BAA
All-Star Stat Line: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
2014 All-Star: Freddie Freeman
The same year Freddie Freeman signed his eight-year $135-million deal, he earned his second consecutive All-Star nod.
Freeman finished the 2014 campaign as the Braves leader in OPS and batting average.
He finished the season with a .288/.386/.461 triple slash line. Freeman crushed 18 homers and a whopping 43 doubles.
All-Star Credentials: .295 AVG, .384 OBP, .495 SLG, 13 HR, 64 R, 52 RBI
All-Star Stat Line: 1-1
2014 All-Star: Julio Teheran
While some experience a sophomore slump in their second year, Julio Teheran continued to build on his strong rookie campaign with his first All-Star nod.
Teheran was quickly establishing himself as the young ace of the Braves staff.
MLB.com pointed out that of NL Pitchers with at least 40 starts since 2013, only Clayton Kershaw, Adam Wainwright, and Zack Greinke had lower ERAs than Julio Teheran’s.
All-Star Credentials: 9-6 (W-L), 2.71 ERA, 136.1 IP, 116 SO, 1.04 WHIP, 2 CG SHO.
All-Star Stat Line: Did Not Play