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The return of Freddie Freeman and the Atlanta Braves debut of Hector Olivera are both now on the horizon, as Braves PresiGM John Hart announced that both players will be starting their rehab assignments on Thursday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Braves?src=hash">#Braves</a> Hart says Freeman and Olivera to begin rehab assignments at GCL Thurs.</p>— David O'Brien (@DOBrienAJC) <a href="https://twitter.com/DOBrienAJC/status/631589315429179393">August 12, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Reportedly, the Braves are feeling good about Freeman's recovery from his strained oblique, even going so far as to set a date for Freddie's return: August 19th.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hart on Freeman: "it's been encouraging what he's been able to do on his rehab. I think there's a good chance we get him back on the 19th"</p>— Kevin McAlpin (@KevinMcAlpin) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinMcAlpin/status/631588921428844544">August 12, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, Olivera's debut could happen either on the same day or shortly thereafter, as the team also expressed optimism that the 30-year-old Cuban could be ready to make his Braves debut sometime before the end of August.
This is nothing but good news. Oblique injuries are notoriously tricky to recover from, and the Braves' optimism surrounding Freddie's recovery is definitely positive, and here's hoping that they're correct about Freeman returning in a week's time. Also, Olivera's debut is one that'll surely be wrapped in intrigue and suspense as we get our first look at what he can do in a Braves uniform, so the sooner he can make his (non-rushed and healthy) highly-anticipated debut, the better.
Overall, the Braves will definitely welcome these two into the fold with open arms.