Braves Freeman Struggling to See with CLs, Glasses, and Goggles

The New York Times has run a great story about Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman's struggle to see at the plate. It begins this way: "A hitter is nothing without his eyes, which is why anxiety gripped Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman last month when his vision started blurring. What if his career was being sideswiped? A hitter might as well have a Wiffle ball bat in his hands if he goes to the plate and his vision is not right. Freeman, 22 and in his second season as the Braves’ regular first baseman, was scared, and rightfully so." Read more.

Braves Freeman CL Saga Continues

"Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman has ditched his glasses and switched back to playing in contact lenses again, hoping the latest medicated eye drops will keep his dry eyes from becoming irritated again," reports the Atlanta Journal. "'I’m going with contacts now,' said Freeman, who a week ago said he was done with contacts and would wear glasses on a permanent basis for the foreseeable future." Read more.

Donning Goggles, Freeman Homers for Braves

Freeman's Reaction after Hitting
Home Run with New Eyewear

"Freddie Freeman homered and drove in three runs, wearing his new glasses, to help the Atlanta Braves recover after blowing a five-run lead to beat the Cardinals 10-7 on Wednesday night," reports USA Today. "Freeman, who had missed four straight starts because of vision problems, was elated about receiving his new sports glasses before the game. He broke out of slump with three hits: his eighth homer in the first, a run-scoring double in the third and run-scoring single in the eighth." Read more.

Hours earlier: "Excited to try the new prescription sports glasses that had just arrived, Freddie Freeman arrived at Turner Field early Wednesday afternoon and immediately went to the batting cage to take swings while wearing dress shorts and a collared shirt," reports a Braves MLB webpage. "After experiencing no problem with the glasses, a jubilant Freeman made his way toward Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez's office to deliver the encouraging update. Things got even better when the young first baseman had no trouble taking swings outside and was placed back in Wednesday's lineup to make his first start since Friday." Read more.

Braves Freeman Waits on Bench for Sports Goggles

" Freddie Freeman has learned he can no longer wear contact lenses or have the peripheral vision necessary to hit while wearing glasses. The first baseman can only patiently wait on the arrival of sports goggles, with the hope they will alleviate the vision problems that have bothered him for three weeks," reports Braves.com. "Under Armour and Oakley both said they needed approximately a week to construct a prescription set of goggles for Freeman. There is some hope that at least one pair of these goggles might arrive by Tuesday." Read more.

Braves Sit Freeman with Dry Eye

"The Braves were also without first baseman Freddie Freeman Sunday night as he continues to battle blurry vision caused by dry eyes," reports the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "Freeman, who also missed Saturday’s game, told team trainers before the game he was still experiencing the issue. Eric Hinske started at first base. Freeman has tried different combination of contact lenses, sports goggles, eye drops and diet to try to alleviate the issue, which first arose in Colorado at the beginning of the month. 'We are going to take our time,' Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. 'The doctor said it’s a process. It’s a process of getting the right glasses and the right contacts and the right mixture of [eye] solution. … He has to be patient. He can’t go through 12 pairs of contacts in one night. That isn’t going help.'" Read more.

Braves Eye Doc Gets Freeman Seeing Straight

"1B Freddie Freeman was back in the lineup after another session with the Braves team eye doctor Friday morning, where he tried many, many different styles of contact lenses before settling on some that keep his eyes moist. But he also has some new sports glasses to wear as a backup," according to a post on the Chicago Tribune. Read more.

Freddie Freeman Sidelined by Dry Eye

"Freddie Freeman admits he’s had 'no chance' trying to hit and field with dry eyes caused by contact lenses in the past month," according to an Atlanta Consitution blog. "'I’m seeing two balls and I’m just guessing, en when I’m hitting,' the Braves first baseman said. 'It got to the point where I couldn’t do it anymore.' Freeman spent several hours Friday morning with team eye doctors. He was fitted with yet another pair of contact lenses, a set he hopes won’t dry out his eyes which has led to blurry vision. He was also fitted with a pair of prescription glasses, assembled in two hours, which he can wear if the contacts don’t work." Read more.

Freddie Freeman Sits Out Game Because of Dry Eye

"Freddie Freeman didn't start Thursday because he continues to have issues with his contact lenses. Freeman left a game on earlier this month due to blurred vision in his right eye and had trouble picking up a throw from shortstop Tyler Pastornicky on Wednesday night. The team ordered special sports goggles for Freeman, but they have not yet been delivered. Eric Hinske made the start at first base on Thursday night." That's the post from Fantasy Baseball Breaking News. 

Freeman's Eye Trouble Continues

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that "Freddie Freeman  spent part of his weekend switching between glasses and various contact lenses and trying out assorted eye drops in a somewhat successful effort to alleviate his dry eyes." The Atlanta Braves first baseman has been struggling even since the Braves played the Rockies in Denver this past week. Read more.

Freeman Back at Third

"[Freddie] Freeman made his third visit to Braves ophthalmologist Alan Kozarsky this morning after being diagnosed with scratched corneas and microscopic abrasions on both eyes," reports the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "He was given a new set of contact lenses, which he was still getting used to before the game. After sitting in the doctor’s office for 35 minutes to make sure he reacted well to the new lenses, Freeman sent a text message to Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez informing him he was able to return. 'All the scratches are gone,' Freeman said. 'The abrasions are gone. Everything is good. I got lucky that nothing was serious.'" Read more.

Scratch on Right Eye Sidelines Braves First Baseman

"Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman has a minor scratch on his right eye and is not starting in Tuesday night's game against Cincinnati," reports ESPN. "Freeman says he hopes to play on Wednesday. He says he went through seven pairs of contact lenses on Monday night but had to leave the game after the seventh inning because the scratch on his cornea affected his field of vision." Read more.