Tyler Freeman (baseball)

Tyler Freeman
Freeman with the Cleveland Guardians in 2023
Colorado Rockies – No. 2
Utility player
Born: (1999-05-21) May 21, 1999
Rancho Cucamonga, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 3, 2022, for the Cleveland Guardians
MLB statistics
(through 2025 season)
Batting average.247
Home runs13
Runs batted in84
Stats at Baseball Reference 
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

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

Cleveland Indians / Guardians

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 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, with whom he batted .319/.457/.462, with 10 stolen bases without being caught.[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. Although being recalled and activated for the playoffs, Freeman suffered a season ending torn oblique muscle during live at bats prior to Game 2 vs the Detroit Tigers and was later taken off the roster.[22]

Colorado Rockies

On March 22, 2025, Freeman was traded to the Colorado Rockies for outfielder Nolan Jones.[23]

After a slow start through late May and battling consistent playing time, Freeman recorded 44 hits over a 34-game span, raising his batting average from .189 to .345 by early July.[24]

During June, Freeman established several personal bests, including an eight-game hitting streak while slashing .306/.366/.468 over that stretch.[25]

Interim Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer commented on Freeman’s ability to put the ball in play, and Freeman noted that simplifying his approach — focusing more on contact rather than trying to lift the ball — helped stabilize his performance.[26]

On July 12, 2025, Freeman extended his on-base streak to 25 games, reaching base safely in 34 consecutive starts, highlighted by a walk and a single against the Cincinnati Reds.[27]

Freeman finished the season with career highs in hits, runs scored, doubles, on-base percentage, and stolen bases contributing offensively across 110 games with a .281 batting average, 18 stolen bases, .354 on-base percentage, 20 doubles, two triples, and two home runs over 377 at-bats.[28]

Personal life

Tyler's younger brother, Cody, is also an MLB player.[29] Their brother in law, Shane McGuire, is also a professional baseball player, reaching Triple-A in 2025.[30][31]

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

References

  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. ^ Hoynes, Paul (June 29, 2017). "Cleveland Indians sign SS Tyler Freeman, their second pick in the June draft". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  5. ^ Bastian, Jordan (June 28, 2017). "Indians sign 2017 Draft pick Tyler Freeman". MLB.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  6. ^ Glenn, Jeremiah (June 13, 2017). "TCU 2017 Signing Class Hit Hard by MLB Draft". 247Sports. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  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. ^ Polishuk, Mark (August 10, 2021). "Cleveland Prospect Tyler Freeman Undergoes Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  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 October 2, 2025.
  25. ^ Dechert, Renee (June 10, 2025). "Tyler Freeman is having a solid (under-the-radar) season". Purple Row. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  26. ^ Dechert, Renee (June 10, 2025). "Tyler Freeman is having a solid (under-the-radar) season". Purple Row. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  27. ^ "CIN vs COL Recap: July 12, 2025". ESPN. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  28. ^ "Tyler Freeman 2025 Batting Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  29. ^ "Cody Freeman Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  30. ^ Jones, West; Henry, Kevin (July 3, 2025). "The Fabulous Freeman Family". Just Baseball. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  31. ^ "Shane McGuire Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
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