Braves' Freeman says ailing right wrist is finally pain-free
ATLANTA - Freddie Freeman's slow-healing right wrist finally is pain-free, allowing the Braves first baseman to take swings on back-to-back days this week for the first time this offseason.
Freeman said at the Braves' FanFest on Saturday the wrist never fully recovered last season after he spent five weeks on the disabled list in June and July. He said a turning point came when he had an injection in the wrist on Dec. 20.
''It was a tough offseason, the first couple months to try to get healthy, but I am 100 percent healthy now,'' Freeman said.
He said taking swings two straights days was a big step.
''Everything felt good, so I am on the right path to being 100 percent ready to go, full bore, for the first day of spring training,'' Freeman said.
''It took seven months for all the pain to go away,'' he added. ''I'm really happy it did.''
The Braves called the injury a contusion. Freeman also spent two weeks on the DL with a right oblique injury, only adding to his frustrations.
Freeman being healthy is crucial for the rebuilding Braves, who have too few established bats in the middle of their lineup. He says he hit off the tee and hit underhand tosses without pain this week.
''He's kind of graduating to batting practice, but he's got a big smile on his face,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said. ''He feels great.''
Freeman is Atlanta's only remaining starting position player from its last NL East champion team in 2013. He hit a career-best .319 with 23 homers and 109 RBIs on that team that won 96 games.
The underpowered Atlanta offense finished last in the majors in homers as the Braves won only 67 games, their low since 1990.
General manager John Coppolella has said Freeman, 26, won't be traded. Despite the injuries, Freeman hit .276 with 18 homers and 66 RBIs last season. He was limited to 118 games, his low since making his debut with Atlanta in 2010.
Freeman, entering the third year of an 8-year, $135-million deal, said he is ''really excited'' about the team's direction.
"When I came up with the Braves we were winning and either in the playoffs or a game away every year,'' he said. ''Then in 2014 we started going in the wrong direction. That's going to make coming back up even sweeter.''