Freddie Freeman Excited to Have Marcell Ozuna Batting Right Behind Him in Braves Lineup
By Sam Dunn
The Atlanta Braves enter 2020 Spring Training in an intriguing position. They're the two-time defending champions of the NL East, but are nonetheless looking up at the Washington Nationals, who rode a Wild Card berth all the way to World Series glory.
And though the team won't look quite the same this year thanks to the departure of cleanup man Josh Donaldson in free agency, longtime first baseman Freddie Freeman is excited about the new slugger set to assume the spot in the lineup just behind him: Marcell Ozuna.
Freeman’s faith in Ozuna strengthens his belief this could be the year the Braves begin a run of World Series appearances https://t.co/sLh1iJTQjd
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) February 17, 2020
“I saw him trot a lot that season against us. He’s a presence in the middle of that lineup," Freeman said of the former Cardinal, per MLB.com. "If healthy, I don’t see him as a .240 hitter. I think he’s going to be a force. I think he’s going to make our lineup that much deeper.”
Ozuna knows a thing or two about playing in the NL East, too. In his four full seasons with the Marlins before relocating to St. Louis, he racked up 93 home runs and 329 RBI, including two straight All-Star appearances in 2016 and '17.
Marcell Ozuna on joining the top of the @Braves’ lineup: “It’s awesome.” pic.twitter.com/KWir0FvyRP
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) February 16, 2020
The man himself certainly sounds excited to be the fourth man in the batting order after Ronald Acuña, Ozzie Albies, and Freeman.
It's generally nice work if you can get it.