6 Atlanta Braves teammate pairings fans may have forgotten about
You know these players played for the Braves, but did you know they played together?
The Atlanta Braves are lucky enough to have batches of standout players in each generation. Usually, we don't think of these players overlapping, but sometimes, the newer generation just happens to cross paths with the older generation. Other times, the older generation returns after years of playing for other teams.
In this article, we'll look at six pairs of players you didn't realize played together.
6 Atlanta Braves teammate pairings fans may have forgotten about
1. Spencer Strider and Freddie Freeman (2021)
At the very end of the 2021 season, the Braves called up Spencer Strider. Strider had blown through the minor leagues and the Braves were looking at the flame-thrower as an option for the 2021 playoffs.
The righty appeared in two games against the Mets, pitching 2.1 innings. In his MLB debut, Austin Riley manned first base, which meant that the 1.1 innings Strider pitched two days later on the final day of the season was the only time Strider and the former face of the franchise, Freddie Freeman, ever shared the field.
The Braves opted to not include Strider on any of the postseason rosters during the World Series run, and Freddie Freeman opted to trust his agent instead of Chipper Jones.
The next season, Strider transformed into an ace and signed a long-term extension to keep him in a Braves uniform until at least 2029.
Here's one of the two clips online where Spencer Strider and Freddie Freeman are in the same frame in the same uniform.
2. Brian McCann and Ronald Acuña Jr. (2019)
Brian McCann was best known for breaking through on the Baby Braves in 2005, helping the team win its 14th straight division title, and developing into the best player of the group.
Ronald Acuña broke through on a Baby Braves team in 2018, helping the team win its first division title in five years and developing into the best player of the group.
In 2018, one would think of Brian McCann in a group of Braves that shared a roster with Chipper Jones. But, in 2019, B-Mac came home (or the Fun Police, as some call him), and played 85 games for Atlanta. Ronald Acuña Jr, meanwhile, went out and improved on his 2018 Rookie of the Year campaign.
Enjoy this amazing highlight of Ronnie absolutely nailing the cooler shower after Brian McCann hit a 2-out walk-off.