Three Gwinnett Alums Claim MLB Awards for 2020

The Atlanta Braves produced another season for the history books in 2020, winning the National League East Division title for the third straight year and battling through three grueling rounds of an expanded MLB Postseason to finish one win short of the World Series.

Of the 49 players that powered the Braves to a 35-25 record during the abbreviated 60-game campaign, 30 had previously played in Gwinnett. The group of G-Braves and Stripers alums included established stars like Freddie Freeman and Ronald Acuña Jr., emerging aces like Max Fried and Ian Anderson, fast-rising rookies like Cristian Pache and Huascar Ynoa, and key veteran contributors like Adam Duvall and Tyler Matzek.

With the Postseason now more than two weeks in the rear-view mirror, Major League Baseball is now wrapping up its awards season. Three Gwinnett alums are adding hardware to their trophy cases after memorable performances in 2020.

Max Fried Wins NL Gold Glove

On November 3, Fried was recognized by Rawlings as the NL’s top defensive pitcher for 2020 after posting a .941 fielding percentage (one error in 17 total chances) and recording an MLB-high four pickoffs (tied for first alongside San Francisco’s Tyler Anderson). In earning his first MLB award of any kind, Fried became just the fourth Atlanta Braves pitcher to win a Gold Glove all-time, joining Hall of Famers Phil Niekro (five times, 1978-80, 1982-83) and Greg Maddux (10 times, 1993-2002), and Mike Hampton (2003).

If not for a mid-September back spasm that limited him to 56.0 innings, Fried might also have garnered more serious consideration for the NL Cy Young Award. The 26-year-old left-hander stepped into Atlanta’s No. 1 starter role for an injured Mike Soroka and went 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA, .211 BAA, and 1.09 WHIP in 11 dominant starts. That success carried over to the Postseason, as Fried produced a 3.04 ERA in four starts to guide the Braves to 3-1 record in those contests.

Fried, 26-11 with a 3.52 ERA over 67 career MLB games with Atlanta, is only two seasons removed from a 13-start stint with the Stripers in 2018. In 15 total starts with Gwinnett from 2017-18, he went 2-6 with a 4.23 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 72.1 innings.

Ronald Acuña Jr. and Freddie Freeman Earn NL Silver Slugger Awards

On November 5, a Braves’ franchise-record four players – outfielder Acuña Jr., first baseman Freeman, catcher Travis d’Arnaud, and designated hitter Marcell Ozuna – were recognized with National League Silver Slugger awards, presented annually by Louisville Slugger to the top hitter at each position in both leagues. Of that group, both Acuña Jr. and Freeman previously played in Gwinnett.

The 22-year-old Acuña Jr. claimed Silver Slugger honors for the second time in his three-year MLB career after ranking among the NL top 10 qualifiers in OPS (5th, .987), runs (T-5th, 46), walks (T-6th, 38), on-base percentage (7th, .406), slugging percentage (8th, .581), and stolen bases (T-10th, 8). Limited to 46 games due to left wrist inflammation, he batted .250 with 11 doubles, 14 home runs, and 29 RBIs.

Freeman won his second Silver Slugger award as well, delivering the best season of his 11-year MLB career. His career-best .341 average ranked second in the NL behind only Washington’s Juan Soto (.351), and the 31-year-old finished among the NL top 10 qualifiers in runs (1st, 51), doubles (1st, 23), OPS (2nd, 1.102), on-base percentage (2nd, .462), slugging percentage (2nd, .640), RBIs (2nd, 53), total bases (T-2nd, 137), hits (3rd, 73), and walks (3rd, 45). Freeman is the first Braves first-baseman to win multiple Silver Slugger awards.

Acuña Jr. and Freeman were both award-winning minor leaguers during their Gwinnett tenures. Acuña Jr. hit .344/.393/.548 with 14 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 38 runs, 33 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases in 54 games with Gwinnett in 2017 as he was proclaimed the Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America. Freeman’s lone full season with Gwinnett in 2010 resulted in the International League Rookie of the Year award, as he batted .319/.378/.521 with 35 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 73 runs, and 87 RBIs in 124 games.

Freeman Crowned NL Most Valuable Player

The NL Silver Slugger was just an appetizer for Freeman, who captured the most prestigious award won by a Braves player this century. On November 12 he was named the National League Most Valuable Player, making him the Braves’ first MVP since third baseman Chipper Jones won in 1999.

In addition to his rankings in the NL, Freeman also finished among the top 10 qualifiers in Major League Baseball in runs (1st, 51), doubles (1st, 23), OPS (2nd, 1.102), on-base percentage (2nd, .462), slugging percentage (2nd, .640), batting (3rd, .341), RBIs (3rd, 53), total bases (T-3rd, 137), hits (4th, 73), and walks (4th, 45). His lengthy list of 2020 awards also includes MLB Players Choice NL Outstanding Player, MLB Players Choice Player of the Year, and Baseball America Major League Player of the Year.

Freeman is one of four Braves players to win the NL MVP award in the Atlanta era, joining Jones (1999), third baseman Terry Pendleton (1991), and outfielder Dale Murphy (1982-83).

He is also the first player to win an MVP award after playing for Gwinnett. Ryan Howard, the NL MVP with Philadelphia in 2006, went on to play for Gwinnett a decade later during his final season in 2017. Prior to the 2020 season starting, Freeman was named Gwinnett’s “Player of the Decade” for 2010-19 by online fan voting.