The Atlanta Braves are depending on some power and good defense out of 34-year old righty swinging starting SS Alex Gonzalez in 2011. Gonzalez played in 157 games for the Blue Jays & Braves last season in which he was 149 of 595 (.250 avg, .741 OPS) with 74 runs scored, 23 homers, 88 RBIs and 1 stolen base. The Braves would be happy with 15-20 homers and solid defense out of Gonzalez in 2011 and he’s very capable of doing just that. Gonzalez had 19 errors in 157 games at SS last season while showing off pretty good range. I am amazed that Gonzalez has never won a Gold Glove because he is that good.

26-year old righty swinging Diory Hernandez will have a good shot of making the Braves if he has a good spring. He played in 20 games for the Braves last season and he was 1 of 9 (.111 avg, .556 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. He also played in 30 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 37 of 116 (.319 avg, .758 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 0 homers, 17 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Hernandez played 4 error-free games at SS for the Braves last season while showing excellent range. The Braves don’t doubt Hernandez’ mitt but he is only a career .138 hitter with a .424 OPS in the majors and that will have to improve if he wants any chance of having a decent major league career.

25-year old righty swinging Brandon Hicks played in 16 games for the Braves last season and he was 0 for 5 (.000 avg, .167 OPS) with 7 runs scored. He also played in 77 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 55 of 261 (.211 avg, .613 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 7 homers, 22 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Hicks played in 2 error-free games at SS for the Braves last season. Hicks will likely start the 2011 season back in AAA-ball to try to improve with his bat.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BRAVES SHORTSTOPS IN 2011: B-

The Atlanta Braves pretty much stole 30-year old righty swinging Dan Uggla from the division rival Marlins in a deal over the winter. Uggla played in 159 games for the Marlins last season and he was 169 of 589 (.287 avg, .837 OPS) with 100 runs scored, 33 homers, 105 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Uggla has averaged 99.8 runs scored, 30.8 homers and 93.0 RBIs per year over his first five seasons in the majors. Uggla made 18 errors (way too many) in 158 games at 2B for the Marlins last season while showing slightly above average range. I think Uggla is going to have a monster season for the Braves in 2011.

27-year old righty swinging Martin Prado is getting bumped out to LF in 2011. But, if Dan Uggla gets injured, the Braves might bring Prado back into the infield. Prado played in 98 games at 2B for the Braves last season and he made 6 errors while showing excellent range.

26-year old righty swinging Diory Hernandez and 25-year old righty swinging Brandon Hicks are both natural SS but they will battle for the utility infield job this spring. Each of them played 1 error-free game at 2B for the Braves last season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BRAVES 2B IN 2011: A

The Atlanta Braves are going to give 21-year old lefty swinging 1B Freddie Freeman every opportunity to win the starting 1B job this spring. Freeman came into the 2010 season as the Braves’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America. Freeman played in 124 games in AAA-ball lasst season and he was 147 of 461 (.319 avg, .898 OPS) with 73 runs scored, 18 homers, 87 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Freeman finished the season in Atlanta where he played in 20 games and was 4 of 24 (.167 avg, .500 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. Freeman whiffed 8 times for the Braves as he appeared a bit nervous making his major league debut during a playoff race. Freeman didn’t make any errors in 12 games at 1B for the Braves and he has a solid mitt. The Braves hope that Freeman will follow Jason Heyward’s footsteps starting this year.

32-year old lefty swinging Eric Hinske will take over if Freeman isn’t ready for prime time in 2011. Hinske played in 131 games for the Braves last season and he was 72 of 281 (.256 avg, .793 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 11 homers and 51 RBIs. Hinske only made 1 error in 32 games at 1B for the Braves last season as he is solid there. He is a very underrated baseball player and the Braves would not be in much trouble if he started at 1B in 2011, but that’s not the plan.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BRAVES 1B IN 2011: C