4. Atlanta Braves 2018 All-Stars: Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Nick Markakis, Mike Foltynewicz
The 2018 All-Star game brought a lot of hope to the Braves. The team was just a half-season removed from finishing 25 games out of first place. The unlikely turnaround led to the first of three straight division titles and counting.
The team had an injection of premium youth with Albies arriving in 2017 and Ronald Acuna Jr. had arrived just 43 games prior to the 2018 All-Star break.
Two veterans in Markakis and Freeman helped lead this team out of the gutter and an injection of youth adding to the firepower with Albies and Folty.
2018 Atlanta Braves All-Star: Freddie Freeman
Freeman entered the break hitting .315 with 16 homers, 61 RBI, 25 2B, 59 R, and a .533 SLG. Freddie had completely established himself as a true star of the game at this point, as evidenced by the fact that he led the NL in votes with over four million.
All-Star Credentials: .315/.405/.533, 59 R, 114 H, 25 2B, 3 3B, 16 HR, 61 RBI, 6 SB
All-Star Stat Line: 0-2.
2018 Atlanta Braves All-Star: Ozzie Albies
Albies found himself representing the Braves on the National League All-Star squad at just 21-years-old.
Ozzie posted an .810 OPS over the course of his 57 games in 2017 and continued to build off that success into 2018.
He lit the month of April on fire with nine homers and a 158 wRC+. Ozzie posted a ridiculous 20 homers and 55 RBI by the break. He had also scored 74 runs and racked up 29 doubles and nine steals.
All-Star Credentials: .281/.318/.516, 74 R, 29 2B, 3 3B, 20 HR, 55 RBI, 9 SB
All-Star Stat Line: 0-1, 0 SO
2018 Atlanta Braves All-Star: Mike Foltynewicz
In what was a breakout season for Folty, he provided more than stability to the pitching staff, but ace-like numbers.
He finished the year with a 2.85 ERA in 31 starts and a 13-10 record.
To date, this is his only season to finish with an ERA under 4.31.
Folty had a solid outing in the All-Star game, striking out Jose Ramirez, walking Aaron Judge, then getting Manny Machado and Jose Abreau to fly out to end the fourth.
All-Star Credentials: 7-5 (W-L),2.66 ERA, 101.2 IP, 120 SO, 1.11 WHIP
All-Star Stat Line: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
2018 Atlanta Braves All-Star: Nick Markakis
It is hard for me to fathom that Nick Markakis is a one-time All-Star. What can I say? Chicks dig the long ball.
If you’d like to read more about my adoration for Nick Markakis and his surprising and understated place in baseball history, click the link below.
Nonetheless, Markakis had the long ball working for him in the first half of 2018. He started the season with an EPIC BANG against the Phillies with this walk-off home run.
At the break, he had 10 long balls with 61 RBI. He was hitting .323 with an .877 OPS. He was selected as the NL’s starting right fielder.
All-Star Credentials: .323/.389/.488, 55 R, 120 H, 29 2B, 10 HR, 61 RBI
All-Star Stat Line: 0-1, 0 R, 0 H, 0 RBI, 1 BB, 0 SO