Joc Pederson goes to bat for ‘Hall of Fame’ teammate Freddie Freeman

Joc Pederson may have only spent part of a season with the Atlanta Braves, but he believes his teammate Freddie Freeman is a hall of famer.

While it remains to be seen what happens in free agency, Joc Pederson went to bat for his Atlanta Braves teammate Freddie Freeman.

Rocking his iconic pearl necklace and a sweet Papa John’s polo, Pederson said that while he has not been in contact with the perennial All-Star first baseman this offseason, he believes Freeman will do what is best for his family in free agency. He also says that Freeman has put up hall-of-fame numbers in Braves uniform. Freeman will be turning 33 years old in mid-September 2022.

Though the duo may never be teammates again, is Freeman on his way towards Cooperstown?

Atlanta Braves: Joc Pederson views Freddie Freeman as a hall of fame teammate

Freeman debuted with Atlanta in 2010. He is a five-time NL All-Star, a three-time Silver Slugger, a Gold Glove recipient, an NL MVP and a World Series champion. Assuming he plays at a high level for the next six seasons, he should approach 3,000 career hits and be well over 400 career home runs. Though two shortened seasons will occur in his prime, he could be a hall of famer one day.

And this is why him leaving the Braves is so controversial. He would get the benefit of the doubt in the eyes of those who vote on the hall of fame ballot if he spent his entire career in Atlanta. His No. 5 jersey would be retired by Atlanta. Freeman could push for first-ballot consideration like his mentor Chipper Jones did. He would become a baseball ambassador throughout Braves Country.

Though he could play at a high level for somebody else in the final third of his big-league career, he cannot fall off a cliff physically in another uniform and think that will get him into Cooperstown. Leaving Atlanta hurt Andruw Jones. While Tom Glavine had individual success upon leaving, the New York Mets were not a consistent winner throughout his time playing for the Braves’ arch rival.

Finances are important, but so is legacy, and Freeman will have to wrangle both in his free agency.