Freeman Injured, Puig Will Not Replace Him for All Star Game

Freddie Freeman helped prevent one of the more controversial All-Star Game selections by winning the fan’s final vote for the NL All Star team.

Freeman is worthy enough of a selection this season, slugging nine home runs and driving in 61 RBI for the first place Braves, and a .308/.386 BA and OBP has made his first 312 at bats elite.

However, the first baseman joined four different Braves’ outfielders in suffering recent injuries and will need the break to recover in time to play again next week.

So the simple and logical solution to what could have been a controversy, was gone almost as soon as it arrived.

Logically, Freeman’s thumb injury might have implied the selection of Yasiel Puig to replace him. Puig, who finished second in the final voting, has only spent six weeks in the majors, but has made it the most historic start in baseball history.

From a ratings standpoint, Puig would have made the most sense. From a purist standpoint, despite a .392/.424 slash line with eight home runs, five stolen bases and a 1.046 OPS through his first 148 at bats, Puig cannot be an All Star in just 37 games.

So naturally, MLB has selected Freeman’s teammate, Brian McCann instead. McCann, who left Sunday’s game early as a preventive measure,  is a somewhat questionable replacement. The Braves’ catcher, in total statistics this year, has some lessened value due to Evan Gattis, who filled in while McCann’s missed time with injuries.

Gattis has 14 home runs and 37 RBI in a combination between catcher and outfield and has dealt with his own injuries.

On the other hand, after a major debate about whether Puig has had enough at bats to be an All Star, MLB tabbed McCann, who has 12 HR and 32 RBI in 179 at bats, just 31 more than Puig. McCann’s .291/.374 slash line is impressive enough and he was tabbed directly by NL coach, Bruce Bochy.

The question remains at what point would Puig had been the superior option as a player with overwhelmingly eye-popping numbers? McCann played 16 games more than Puig, implying two more weeks would have made Puig an uncontroversial selection or replacement, even though he has outperformed some All Stars in an abbreviated amount of time.