Atlanta Braves High School and Travel Baseball Origins
One of the most-exciting teams to watch at the professional level this season has been the Atlanta Braves. A team that is currently playing in the 2021 World Series, the Braves have cruised to the Fall Classic by defeating both the Milwaukee Brewers and defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the process.
Across the month of October however, the Braves have gotten a few key moments and performances from a few players in particular. Here is a look at the high school and travel baseball origins for those six players, arguably the most-impactful players so far this postseason.
1B Freddie Freeman
Freeman attended El Modena (CA) in high school in which he turned in a phenomenal senior season batting .417 with a 6-1 record on the mound, while winning 2007 Orange County Register Player of the Year in the process. Freeman was selected in the second round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, and played travel baseball with the Ohio Warhawks and OC Giants.
3B Austin Riley
A talented hitter and pitcher at DeSoto Central (MS), Riley was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft. Riley played his travel baseball with the Dulin Dodgers.
LHP Max Fried
An accomplished high school player in the state of California, Fried spent his sophomore and junior seasons at Montclair Prep before transferring to Harvard-Westlake for his senior season where he posted a 2.02 ERA with 105 strikeouts across 66 innings pitched. A 2012 Rawlings-Perfect Game First-Team All-American, Fried played with SGV Arsenal before being selected in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres.
RHP Ian Anderson
One of the top overall players in the Class of 2016, Anderson attended Shenendehowa (NY) in which he turned in a phenomenal high school career which included a 0.66 ERA with 91 strikeouts during his junior season. Also playing with the Clifton Park Knights, Anderson was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
OF Joc Pederson
Pederson attended Palo Alto (CA) where he turned in a phenomenal senior season in which he slashed .466/.577/.852 with 20 stolen bases as a star centerfielder and leadoff hitter. Also a star football player, Pederson played his travel baseball with Norcal, and was selected in the 11th round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
LHP Tyler Matzek
Matzek turned in a phenomenal senior season at Capistrano Valley (CA) in which he posted a 0.97 ERA with 102 strikeouts across 86.2 innings as the CIF Orange County Player of the Year. Playing with Braves Scout Team on the travel baseball scene, Matzek was selected in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies.
Written by: Matt Melton
