Atlanta Braves star Chris Sale has received multiple MLBPA Players’ Choice Awards
It’s been a good awards season for Braves ace Chris Sale so far. It was announced that he had won the Sporting News Player of the Year award a few days ago. Chris added two more awards to that list as he was named Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year at the 2024 MLBPA Players’ Choice Awards.
These are arguably more important than the official MLB awards that are handed out at the end of the season. The MLBPA Players’ Choice Awards are voted on by Sale’s peers in both leagues.
He came back with a vengeance. 😤 Congratulations, Chris, on being selected for the 2024 NL Players’ Choice Award as the NL Comeback Player and the 2024 NL Player of the Year Outstanding Pitcher!@Brave | @MLBONFOX pic.twitter.com/KmGDTuJyhf
– MLBPA (@MLBPA) October 26, 2024
Unsurprisingly, Sale won all of his awards because he worked hard to get back on the mound after being hampered by injuries the previous three seasons. He had his eighth 200-hit season, putting him behind his idol Randy Johnson for most career hits by a left-handed pitcher.
Sale led the league in wins (18), ERA (2.38), and strikeouts (225), earning him the National League’s Triple Crown for pitchers. It’s been a great year for the Atlanta outfielder, and there should be more wins in his future as he is a favorite for the NL Cy Young Award, which will be the first of his career.
Former Brave Freddie Freeman continues to dominate the Yankees in the 2024 World Series
The 2024 World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees is underway, and it’s all been in Los Angeles so far. Former Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman has been a major part of that success, as he pitches an incredible series.
Freeman hit the first-ever World Series grand slam to win Game 1 for the Dodgers. It was the biggest moment of his career and felt similar to when Kirk Gibson hit a homer for Los Angeles in Game 1 of the 1988 Fall Classic.
Listen to all the amazing calls of Freddie Freeman’s historic grand slam that ended Game 1 of #World Series 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/1pbV4ox2ON
— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2024
He followed that up with an impressive performance in Game 2, including another home run. Freddie has a .323/.353/.806 line with one triple, two doubles, five RBI, and a 1.555 OPS. These are impressive numbers through the first two games, and he shows no signs of slowing down.
During the 2021 World Series with the Braves, Freeman batted .319 over six games with one double, two homers, five RBI, two walks, five hits, and a .996 OPS. He’s on his way to winning his second World Series title and it’s hard not to root for Freddie’s success, even though that success came with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Braves have signed reliever Zach Thompson to a minor league contract
Atlanta’s transactions page indicated that the Braves signed right-handed reliever Zach Thompson to a minor league deal earlier this week. He was signed to a minor league deal with a chance to try for a spot on the big league roster.
Thompson underwent surgery to repair a partially torn flexor tendon, and missed the entire 2024 season. His most recent MLB experience came with the Pirates in 2022. However, his rookie season with the Marlins in 2021 is what the Braves are counting on.
Looking forward to 2025!
I feel great and excited for the next adventure. I am honored to be a part of the Atlanta Braves organization #TheBrave pic.twitter.com/qOMZ6j7T2u
– Zach Thompson (@zachthompson11) October 25, 2024
The righty started 14 games in 2021 with Miami and had a 3.24 ERA over 75 innings. He walked 28 batters and struck out 66. However, the Marlins traded him to the Pirates for catcher Jacob Stallings during the offseason.
He struggled in Pittsburgh, posting a 5.18 ERA over 122.1 innings (22 starts). His main issues were a low strikeout rate and an increase in home runs. Thompson allowed just six homers in 2021, but that number rose to 19 with the Pirates in 2022. That poor performance led to him being designated for assignment at the start of 2023 and eventually traded to the Blue Jays. He spent the 2023 season at the minor league level and is in a similar situation with the Braves. The Atlanta bullpen has some spots available, but will likely spend most of this season at the minor league level.
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