Sam Freeman (baseball)

Samuel Douglas Freeman (born June 24, 1987) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, and Washington Nationals.

Sam Freeman
Freeman with the Washington Nationals in 2020
Pitcher
Born: (1987-06-24) June 24, 1987
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Left
MLB debut
June 1, 2012, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
August 12, 2020, for the Washington Nationals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record8–7
Earned run average3.58
Strikeouts232
Teams

Early life

Freeman started playing baseball at the age of four in the Carrollton Little League in Carrollton, Texas. When he was 12 years old his team won the Carrollton Pony League Championship. Freeman's pitching career started his freshman year of high school, one year before making the varsity team at Hebron High School.

College career

After graduating, Freeman was recruited to play for North Central Texas College (NCTC) where he played for 2 years. Then, Freeman signed with the University of Kansas.

Professional career

St. Louis Cardinals

After his sophomore year of college,[1] Freeman was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 24th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.[2] He didn't sign and went on to Kansas for his junior year. After his junior year, he was redrafted by the Cardinals in the 32nd round in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.[3] With the Cardinals, he rose from the Rookie League to Double–A in three years. He was 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA in Triple–A with the Memphis Redbirds.[2] and was later signed to the Cardinals 40-man roster.

Freeman sustained an injury to his elbow requiring Tommy John surgery, which took him out of the 2010 season.[4][5]

Freeman with the Cardinals in 2013

Freeman made his major league debut during Johan Santana's (New York Mets) no-hitter in New York on June 1, 2012.[6] He appeared in 22 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012, posting a record of 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA.[3][7] Following the regular season he was sent by the Cardinals to play in the Arizona Fall League.[3] After appearing in just 13 games in 2013, Freeman pitched in 44 games in 2014 with an ERA of 2.61 in 38 innings.

Texas Rangers

On March 28, 2015, the Texas Rangers acquired Freeman from the Cardinals for a player to be named later.[8] He was designated for assignment on April 5[9][10] and outrighted on April 15.[11] He was brought back up a few weeks later, finishing the season with 54 appearances for the Rangers.

Milwaukee Brewers

Freeman was acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers on April 5, 2016.[12] He was designated for assignment on May 2, 2016, when the team recalled Junior Guerra.[13] With the Brewers, he allowed 11 earned runs for a 12.91 ERA in seven appearances.[7]

Atlanta Braves

On October 21, 2016, Freeman signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Atlanta Braves.[14] The Braves promoted him to the majors on May 4, 2017.[15] For the season, he appeared in 58 games, going 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA.

Freeman and the Braves agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.075 million on January 11, 2018.[16][17] He struggled with inconsistency throughout the 2018 season due to a lack of command,[18][19][20] a problem that had been noted by several coaches over the course of his career.[21] In late July, Freeman was placed on the disabled list, and returned to the active roster on August 19.[22][23]

On March 22, 2019, Freeman was unconditionally released from the Atlanta Braves.[24]

Los Angeles Angels

On March 27, 2019, Freeman signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels. Freeman had his contract selected on April 23, 2019. He was designated for assignment on April 24 following the promotion of Matt Ramsey.[25] He was outrighted on April 29. Freeman was released on August 19, 2019.

Washington Nationals

On August 21, 2019, Freeman signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals.[26] He became a free agent following the 2019 season.[27] On February 12, 2020, Freeman re-signed with the Nationals on a minor league deal.[28] On July 23, 2020, Freeman had his contract selected to the 40-man roster. In August/September 2020, Freeman underwent Tommy John surgery.[29] Freeman was outrighted off of the roster on October 12, 2020, and subsequently elected free agency.[30]

Kansas City Royals

On December 27, 2021, Freeman signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals organization.[31] In 34 appearances with the Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers, he posted a 1.50 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 1 save in 36.0 innings pitched. On August 24, 2022, Freeman was released.[32]

Gastonia Honey Hunters

On June 6, 2023, Freeman signed with the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[33] In 34 appearances for Gastonia, he logged a 6.06 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 35+2⁄3 innings pitched. On September 1, Freeman retired from professional baseball.[34]

Awards

The Cardinal Nation/Scout.com Springfield Relief Pitcher of the Year: 2011

Texas League All-Star: 2011

Florida State League All-Star: 2009

Scout.com Johnson City Reliever of the Year: 2008 [35]

References
  1. LISD (May 11, 2021). "Hebron High School Hall of Fame". Best Schools in Texas | Lewisville ISD. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  2. Samuel Freeman Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  3. Gintonio, Jim (November 15, 2012). "Cardinals prospect Wong brings confident game to AFL". MLB.com via Cardinals team website. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  4. "Cardinals cultivate new crop of lefthanders". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. June 18, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  5. Haudricourt, Tom (April 6, 2016). "Unsettled bullpen situation led to Sam Freeman/Ariel Pena switch". Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  6. Rohan, Tim (June 2, 2016). "For a Cardinals Pitcher, It's Also a Night of Firsts". New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  7. "Sam Freeman Stats".
  8. Sullivan, T.R. (March 28, 2015). "Rangers acquire lefty Freeman from Cardinals". MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  9. Sullivan, T.R. (April 4, 2015). "Rangers will take final roster decisions to Sunday". MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  10. "Rangers' 25-man roster lacking lefty reliever". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 5, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  11. Sullivan, T. R. (April 15, 2015). "Ranaudo's stay with Rangers a short one". MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  12. McCalvy, Adam (April 5, 2016). "Brewers acquire reliever Freeman from Texas". MLB.com. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  13. Haudricourt, Tom (May 1, 2016). "Reliever Sam Freeman designated for assignment". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 2, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  14. O'Brien, David (October 21, 2016). "Braves sign lefty Freeman, will get invite to spring training". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  15. Bowman, Mark (May 4, 2017). "Braves summon lefty reliever Freeman". MLB.com. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  16. O'Brien, David (January 11, 2018). "Braves sign Sam Freeman, avoid arbitration with lefty". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  17. Bowman, Mark (January 12, 2018). "Reliever Freeman, Braves avoid arb hearing". MLB.com. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  18. O'Brien, David (June 20, 2018). "Braves' other Freeman needed this one". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  19. Burns, Gabriel (August 14, 2018). "McCarthy, Freeman, Moylan could join Braves' September bullpen". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  20. Burns, Gabriel (July 27, 2018). "Snitker keeps faith that struggling Sam Freeman rediscovers form". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  21. Bowman, Mark (March 4, 2018). "Reliever Freeman taking nothing for granted". MLB.com. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  22. Vivlamore, Chris (August 19, 2018). "Braves activate Sam Freeman from DL". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  23. Bowman, Mark (August 19, 2018). "Braves activate LHP Freeman, option Allard". MLB.com. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  24. Tim Tucker, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Braves unconditionally release Sam Freeman". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  25. Adams, Steve (April 24, 2019). "Angels Select Matt Ramsey, Designate Sam Freeman". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  26. George Miller (August 21, 2019). "Minor MLB Transactions: 8/21/19". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  27. Matt Eddy (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Free Agents 2019". Baseball America. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  28. Mark Zuckerman (February 12, 2020). "Nats invite 22 non-roster players to big league camp". www.nasnsports.com. MASN. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  29. "Sam Freeman Undergoes Tommy John Surgery". September 19, 2020.
  30. "Javy Guerra, Sam Freeman Elect Free Agency". October 12, 2020.
  31. Franco, Anthony (January 27, 2022). "Royals Sign Sam Freeman To Minor League Deal". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  32. Gillespie, Mike (August 24, 2022). "Did the KC Royals miss a chance with this reliever?". Fansided. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  33. "Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions".
  34. https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/
  35. Brian Walton, "Sam Freeman Profile", 'Scout.com, August 2, 2012
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