The Latest Breaking News from Chipper Jones

Barry Bonds was kept out of Cooperstown via the traditional route, but the Hall of Fame’s doors haven’t completely shut on baseball’s controversial home run king.

ATLANTA — Phillies center fielder Brandon Marsh grew up in Buford, Ga., about an hour north of Turner Field. He was raised on Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones and John Smoltz, and come October, he expected to see his team in the playoffs.

NEW YORK — Jim Thome’s 14-year-old son, Landon, has come down to breakfast at the Thome household most mornings this baseball season with a question for his old man, the fearsome Hall of Fame slugger who smacked 612 home runs during his playing career:

It was 2010. Jason Heyward was baseball’s No. 1 prospect. In spring training, he launched baseballs that pelted cars parked behind the outfield fence at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. He was from McDonough. He was big, strong and fast. He was wise beyond his tender years. Crusty folks who’d…

Years ago, Brian Bridges, then the Braves’ scouting director, went to a field to watch high school senior Austin Riley. At the time, most of the industry viewed Riley as a pitcher, but the Braves found themselves intrigued with his raw power.

Kyle Petty, as the son of famous NASCAR driver Richard Petty and hugely successful in his own right, has pulled a Jerry Seinfeld and created a TV show that allows him to interview some of his favorite athletes and musicians.

LOS ANGELES — An All-Star performance brought this Mississippi kid to Southern California.

ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman strolled into the press conference room at Truist Park, took a glance at the media — many of whom covered the bulk of his Braves career – and turned right around. “Give me a moment,” he said, exiting the area.

His first game against the Braves was about more than hugs and home runs. Ultimately, it was about returning home.

The NBA playoffs essentially begin on Tuesday.

This is the last Five-Tool Newsletter before the results of the BBWAA Hall of Fame election are announced, so I’ll be revealing my hypothetical ballot today. Sure, it has no bearing on the actual process, but it’s fun. And as the lockout drags on, there aren’t too many better things…