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Tyler Freeman (baseball)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tyler Freeman
Freeman in 2023
Colorado Rockies – No. 2
Utility player
Born: (1999-05-21) May 21, 1999 (age 26)
Rancho Cucamonga, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 3, 2022, for the Cleveland Guardians
MLB statistics
(through July 23, 2025)
Batting average.245
Home runs12
Runs batted in69
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Tyler Andrew Freeman (born May 21, 1999) is an American professional baseball utility player for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cleveland Guardians. He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Amateur career

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Freeman attended Etiwanda High School in Etiwanda, California.[1] As a senior in 2017, he hit .526 with four home runs, 36 runs batted in, and 18 stolen bases.[2] He played two seasons of high school baseball with his younger brother, Cody, who also later played in Major League Baseball.[3]

Professional career

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Cleveland Indians / Guardians

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The Cleveland Indians selected Freeman in the second round with the 71st pick of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[4] He signed with the Indians for $816,500, the slot value for that pick, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball for the TCU Horned Frogs.[5][6] Freeman made his professional debut that summer with the Arizona League Indians, batting .297 in 36 games.

Freeman played the 2018 season with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, slashing .352/.405/.511 with two home runs, 38 runs batted in, and 14 stolen bases in 72 games,[7] earning New York-Penn League All-Star honors.[8] He started 2019 with the Lake County Captains,[9][10][11] with whom he was named a Midwest League All-Star,[12] before being promoted to the Lynchburg Hillcats in June.[13] Over 123 games between both teams, Freeman batted .306/.368/.410 with three home runs, 44 runs batted in, and 19 stolen bases.

Freeman with the Columbus Clippers in 2022

Freeman did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] In 2021, Freeman hit .323/.372/.470 in 41 games for the Double-A Akron RubberDucks. On August 9, he underwent season-ending surgery on his left shoulder.[15]

The newly named Cleveland Guardians selected Freeman to their 40-man roster on November 19, 2021.[16] He was assigned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers to begin the 2022 season.

The Guardians recalled Freeman from the minor leagues on August 3, 2022.[17] He made his major league debut that day, starting at third base. In his debut, Freeman collected his first career hit, a single off Kevin Ginkel of the Arizona Diamondbacks.[18] Appearing in 24 games in his rookie campaign, Freeman hit .247/.314/.286 with no home runs and 3 RBI.

Freeman was optioned to Triple-A Columbus to begin the 2023 season.[19] Freeman was recalled to the major leagues on May 6, replacing the struggling Oscar González. Freeman did not make an appearance until May 10, when he started at second base and went 2-for-4 with two singles in a loss to the Detroit Tigers. In 64 contests for Cleveland, he slashed .242/.295/.366 with four home runs, 18 RBI, and five stolen bases.[20]

Freeman started in center field on Opening Day for Cleveland in 2024. He had his first four-hit game on May 18, with a double, stolen base, walk, and three RBIs.[21] He played in 118 games for the Guardians during the season, batting .209/.305/.321 with seven home runs, 32 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. He did not play for the team in the postseason.[22]

Colorado Rockies

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On March 22, 2025, Freeman was traded to the Colorado Rockies for outfielder Nolan Jones.[23] After batting .189 in his first 17 games through May 28, Freeman collected 44 hits over his next 34 games, raising his average to .345 on July 9.[24]

Personal life

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Tyler's younger brother, Cody, is also an MLB player.[25] Their brother in law, Shane McGuire, is also a professional baseball player, reaching Triple-A in 2025.[26][27]

As a child, Freeman's favorite team was the Los Angeles Dodgers, and his favorite players were Michael Young and Derek Jeter.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Marshall, Pete (June 11, 2017). "Tyler Freeman among locals awaiting MLB draft". San Bernardino Sun. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  2. ^ Gardner, Michelle (June 29, 2017). "Etiwanda grad Tyler Freeman signed with Cleveland Indians". Daily Bulletin. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Tyler Freeman Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  4. ^ "Tribe signs high school shortstop Tyler Freeman for $816,500". Cleveland.com. June 29, 2017.
  5. ^ Bastian, Jordan (June 28, 2017). "Indians sign 2017 Draft pick Tyler Freeman". MLB.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "TCU 2017 Signing Class Hit Hard by MLB Draft". 247Sports. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  7. ^ Karalis, John (November 26, 2018). "Freeman Destroys New York-Penn League on Way to Bigger Things". The Sports Daily. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  8. ^ Tripodi, Chris (August 7, 2018). "Travis Swaggerty, Tyler Freeman headline New York-Penn League All-Stars". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  9. ^ Forde, Craig (July 24, 2018). "Indians' Tyler Freeman feeling fine for Mahoning Valley". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  10. ^ Dykstra, Sam (May 15, 2019). "Toolshed: Cleveland Indians' Tyler Freeman emerging". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  11. ^ Glasier, David S. (April 3, 2019). "Tyler Freeman, Jose Fermin aim to be dynamic infield duo for Captains | Sports". The News-Herald. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  12. ^ "Captains' trio feature in Midwest League All-Star game | Sports". The News-Herald. June 18, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  13. ^ "Captains shortstop Tyler Freeman earns promotion | Sports". The News-Herald. June 19, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  14. ^ Adler, David (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  15. ^ "Cleveland Prospect Tyler Freeman Undergoes Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery". MLB Trade Rumors. August 10, 2021.
  16. ^ "Guardians Announce Series Of 40-man Roster Moves". MLB.com. November 19, 2021.
  17. ^ Adams, Steve (August 3, 2022). "Guardians Promote Tyler Freeman". MLB Trade Rumors.
  18. ^ Wild, Tommy (August 3, 2022). "WATCH: Tyler Freeman Gets First Major League Hit In Guardians Debut". On SI. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  19. ^ "Guardians' Tyler Freeman: Optioned to Triple-A". CBS Sports. March 21, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  20. ^ "Tyler Freeman 2023 batting Stats Per Game". ESPN. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  21. ^ "MLB Gameday: Twins 4, Guardians 11 Final Score". MLB.com. May 18, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  22. ^ "Tyler Freeman 2024 batting Stats Per Game". ESPN. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  23. ^ Harding, Thomas (March 22, 2025). "Rockies acquire Tyler Freeman from Guardians for Nolan Jones". mlb.com. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
  24. ^ "Tyler Freeman 2025 Batting Game Logs". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  25. ^ "Cody Freeman Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  26. ^ Jones, West; Henry, Kevin (July 3, 2025). "The Fabulous Freeman Family". Just Baseball. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  27. ^ "Shane McGuire Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
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