David Freitas

David Joseph Freitas (born March 18, 1989) is an American professional baseball catcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, and Milwaukee Brewers, and in the KBO League for the Kiwoom Heroes.

David Freitas
Freitas with the San Antonio Missions in 2019
Los Angeles Dodgers
Catcher
Born: (1989-03-18) March 18, 1989
Wilton, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: August 30, 2017, for the Atlanta Braves
KBO: April 3, 2021, for the Kiwoom Heroes
MLB statistics
(through 2019 Season)
Batting average.200
Home runs1
Runs batted in8
KBO statistics
(through 2021 season)
Batting average.259
Home runs2
Runs batted in14
Teams

Career

Early career

Freitas was born in Wilton, California. He attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, California, and then Cosumnes River College, where he played college baseball for two years, earning All-American honors. He then transferred to the University of Hawaii, where he continued his college baseball career with the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.[1]

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals selected Freitas in the 15th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. Playing for the Hagerstown Suns of the Class A South Atlantic League in 2011, he started in the all-star game.[2] He began the 2012 season with the Potomac Nationals of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League.[3]

Oakland Athletics

On August 3, 2012, the Nationals traded Freitas to the Athletics for Kurt Suzuki.[4] He split the 2013 season between the Midland RockHounds of the Class AA Texas League and the Sacramento River Cats of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL).[5]

Baltimore Orioles

The Athletics traded Freitas to the Baltimore Orioles on December 12, 2013, as the player to be named later in trade that also sent Jemile Weeks to the Orioles for Jim Johnson.[6][7] With the Orioles' organization, Freitas played for the Bowie Baysox of the Class AA Eastern League and Norfolk Tides of the Class AAA International League.[8]

Chicago Cubs

After the 2015 season, the Cubs selected Freitas in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft.[9] Freitas began the 2016 season with the Tennessee Smokies of the Class AA Southern League.[10] He was later promoted to the Iowa Cubs of the PCL.[8]

Atlanta Braves

On November 11, 2016, Freitas signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.[11] He played for the Gwinnett Braves of the International League.[3] The Braves promoted Freitas to the major leagues on August 30, 2017, and he made his major league debut in the second game of a double header against the Philadelphia Phillies that same day.[12][13] Freitas got his first major league hit, a double in his second at-bat.

Seattle Mariners

On October 27, 2017, the Seattle Mariners claimed Freitas off of waivers.[14] In 2018 for Seattle, Freitas batted .215 in 36 big league games.[15] Freitas began the 2019 season with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, and registered only four hitless plate appearances for the Mariners.[3]

Milwaukee Brewers

On April 14, 2019, the Mariners traded Freitas to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Sal Biasi.[16] The Brewers assigned Freitas to the San Antonio Missions of the PCL.[3] Splitting the season with the Tacoma Rainiers and San Antonio, Freitas won the Pacific Coast League batting title with a .387 average as part of a torrid .387 in 91 games in the PCL.[3] He also appeared in 16 major league games for Milwaukee, notching one hit in 13 at-bats.[17]

Kiwoom Heroes

On February 5, 2021, Freitas signed a one-year, $600,000 deal with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League.[18] Freitas played in 43 games for Kiwoom, slashing .259/.297/.374 with two home runs and 14 RBI[19]

Tampa Bay Rays

On July 24, 2021, Freitas signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.[20]

Freitas spent the 2021 season with the Triple-A Durham Bulls. He played in 16 games, hitting .245 with three RBI's. Freitas became a free agent following the season.[3]

New York Yankees

On December 23, 2021, Freitas signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees.[21] He played for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders[22]

Los Angeles Dodgers

On January 5, 2023, Freitas signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.[23] He played in 29 games for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, batting .295 with five homers and 26 RBI.[3]

Personal life

Freitas grew up a fan of the Athletics. David married his college sweetheart Kacee Freitas in 2013. They have two sons and reside in Wilton, ca.[24]

References
  1. "Who is David Freitas?". CSN Bay Area. August 4, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  2. "Q&A: David Freitas". Elk Grove Citizen. July 5, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  3. "David Freitas Minor, Fall & Korean League Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  4. "Nationals acquire catcher Kurt Suzuki from Athletics". MLB.com (Press release). August 3, 2012. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  5. "Elk Grove's Freitas back home with River Cats | Sports". egcitizen.com. August 15, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  6. Connolly, Dan. "Orioles acquire minor league catcher David Freitas to complete Jim Johnson trade". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  7. Kruth, Cash (December 12, 2013). "O's complete Weeks deal, get Minor League catcher". Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  8. "Knocking on the door of Major League Baseball | Sports". egcitizen.com. July 1, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  9. Gonzales, Mark. "Cubs suffer no losses in Rule 5 draft, lose Edgar Olmos to Baltimore on waiver claim". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  10. "David Freitas hopes he has a home in Cubs' organization". Archive.knoxnews.com. May 22, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  11. Eddy, Matt (November 21, 2016). "Minor League Transactions: Nov 12-18". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  12. "Former 'Bows Catcher David Freitas called up by the Atlanta Braves". KHON2. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  13. "David Freitas finally gets first call to majors with Braves". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. August 30, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  14. Roberts, Quinn (January 20, 2016). "Mariners add David Freitas, Rob Whalen | MLB.com". M.mlb.com. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  15. "Brewers Acquire David Freitas from Mariners".
  16. "Seattle Mariners trade David Freitas to Milwaukee Brewers". April 14, 2019.
  17. "What to expect from David Freitas". September 4, 2019.
  18. "KBO's Heroes sign ex-MLB hitter David Freitas". Yonhap News Agency. February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  19. "Justin Smoak Returns from NPB".
  20. David Freitas Stats, Highlights, Bio | MLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Major League Baseball
  21. "Yankees, David Freitas Agree To Minor League Deal". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  22. "Louisville ends RailRiders' home streak; Bird, Freitas released".
  23. "Dodgers' David Freitas: Joins Dodgers on MiLB deal". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  24. Slusser, Susan (February 27, 2013). "A's catcher David Freitas progressing". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
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