Tyler Freeman

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #11 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Freeman opened the 2022 season in Akron and played his way to the big leagues, debuting in August. He had a slow start in Cleveland, however, and did not make the playoff roster. Still, it was a solid year, as Freeman came back from a shoulder injury that cost him the second half of 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Freeman stands out most for his hittability and excellent feel for the barrel. He has a very aggressive approach at the plate and rarely walks as a result, but when he swings, he makes contact. While his pure hit tool is excellent, how much impact he'll provide offensively remains a question. His six home runs at Triple-A Columbus were a career high in just 72 games, but he otherwise struggled to produce power against upper-level pitchers. A return to his pre-surgery 2021 form when a third of his hits went for extra bases would be a big boost. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop and has primarily played there as a professional, but his average speed and arm strength limit his range and many evaluators question whether he's a long-term fit at the position. He played shortstop, second and third base in the big leagues and he could still settle at any of the three positions. A move off shortstop, however, would put more pressure on his bat and, especially, his power.
  
  The Future: Freeman will be 23 on Opening Day and will go to spring training competing for a spot on the roster. The Guardians have a very crowded middle infield, however, especially following strong 2022 seasons from Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez. Freeman has perhaps the best offensive potential of the group, but his defense is not as advanced and in breaking the logjam, Cleveland will have to decide what it values more. His versatility could help him carve out a role in Cleveland in the immediate future, while in the long run it will be up to his bat to earn him a full-time role.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 20. Speed: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #1 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Since being drafted 71st overall in 2017 out of Etiwanda High, Freeman has been the most consistent hitter in Cleveland’s system. He led the New York-Penn League in 2018 in a host of offensive categories, including batting average (.352) and slugging percentage (.511), as a 19-year-old. He followed that up with an impressive 2019, earning a promotion to High-A Lynchburg in his first year of full-season ball. Freeman spent the canceled 2020 minor league season at Cleveland’s alternate training site and continued his previous ways when minor league play resumed in 2021. He was hitting .323 at Double-A in late June when he suffered a small tear in the labrum in his left shoulder. He briefly returned in July for five games but was unable to continue and ultimately had season-ending surgery in August. He has made good progress in his recovery and returned to baseball activities in December.
  
  Scouting Report: Freeman stands out most for his hitting ability and excellent feel for the barrel. He has a very aggressive approach at the plate and rarely walks, but when he swings, he makes contact. He is a career .319/.378/.445 hitter with a miniscule 9.2% strikeout rate and projects to be at least a plus hitter. His pure hit tool stands out as one of the best not just in the system, but in the minors overall, and his contact-based approach fits the organization’s philosophy well. Though on the smaller side, Freeman has always had some projectable power with his bat speed and ability to consistently square balls up. That power began to manifest in 2020, when he arrived at the alternate site noticeably stronger following the coronavirus shutdown. In 2021, a third of his hits went for extra bases, although he still hit just two home runs. While Freeman will likely never be a major home run threat, he posts solid exit velocities and does enough damage to keep pitchers honest. His ability to drive balls in the gaps combined with his average speed help him to produce plenty of doubles and he may grow into even more juice in time. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop and continues to develop there. He’s improved his hands, infield actions and instincts, but he’s still an average runner with average arm strength and limited range. Second base remains his most likely future position, but his ability to play shortstop has continually exceeded expectations as a professional. He also saw time at third base in 2021 to enhance his versatility. He earns praise for his competitiveness and work ethic, traits that have helped him outperform expectations defensively, as well as expand his offensive skill set. Regardless of where Freeman ends up defensively, his bat will be his carrying tool and profiles just fine at second base.
  
  The Future: Freeman should be back to full health at the start of the 2022 season. Cleveland added him to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft and he could be in line for his major league debut sometime during the summer. He projects to be the Guardians’ everyday second baseman of the future and one of the club’s best pure hitters.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #4 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 60. Power: 40. Running: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Freeman has been a top hitter at nearly every stop since the Indians drafted him in the supplemental second round in 2017. He led the short-season New York-Penn League in batting (.352) and slugging (.511) in 2018 and climbed to high Class A Lynchburg in 2019, where he hit .319/.354/.397 as a 20-year-old at two stops. The Indians brought him to their alternate training site in Eastlake, Ohio in 2020 with most of their other top prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Freeman stands out for his excellent hitting ability and natural feel for the barrel. He has a very aggressive approach and rarely walks, but when he swings, he makes contact. Freeman got stronger during the shutdown and started showing more power over the summer. His bat speed and ability to consistently square balls up give him double-digit home run power despite his modest size. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop and has improved his hands, infield actions and instincts. He’s still an average runner with average arm strength, which limits his range and may push him to second base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Regardless of where he ends up defensively, Freeman’s bat will stand out. He’s likely to get his first taste of Double-A in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #2 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Freeman turned in a stellar first full pro season in 2018 that saw him lead the New York-Penn League in a host of offensive categories, including batting (.352) and slugging (.511), as a 19-year-old. He followed that with an impressive 2019, earning a promotion to high Class A Lynchburg in his first taste of full-season ball. Despite being one of the youngest players in the Carolina League, he more than held his own after his promotion to Lynchburg and is now a career .319/.379/.441 hitter.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Freeman stands out most for his hitting ability and excellent feel for the barrel. He has a very aggressive approach at the plate and rarely walks, but when he swings, he makes contact. Thanks to his ability to consistently square balls up, he has doubles pop now and may be able to add more power as he physically matures. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop and the Indians are developing him at that position. He's shown improvement with his hands, infield actions and instincts. He's still an average runner with average arm strength, however, which limits his range and might ultimately push him to second base, especially in a system with as many high-end defensive shortstops. Regardless of where he ends up defensively, his bat will stand out.
  
  THE FUTURE: Freeman is on the leading edge of the Indians' group of young middle infielders, meaning he can move quickly through the system. That probably means he's ready for Double-A Akron in 2020.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #3 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Freeman this summer starred for short-season Mahoning Valley in his first full professional season. He led the New York-Penn League in batting (.352), slugging (.511), runs (49), hits (95) and doubles (29), while playing the whole summer as a 19-year-old.
  
  Scouting Report: Freeman stands out most for his hitting and excellent feel for the barrel. He has a very aggressive approach at the plate and rarely walks as a result, but when he swings he makes contact. Thanks to his ability to consistently square balls up, he produces plenty of doubles--he hit the most doubles in the New York-Penn League since 1999--and he may be able to develop fringe-average power as he physically matures. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop and the Indians are developing him there, though he's also gotten time at second base in each of the last two years. He's already improved his hands, infield actions and instincts but he's still an average runner with average arm strength, which may mean a move to second base is still in his future.
  
  The Future: Regardless of where Freeman ends up defensively, his bat will be the main attraction. He'll advance to full-season ball in 2019 with low Class A Lake County in 2019 and look to continue his impressive performance at the plate.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #16 prospect in 2018
  Freeman had a dominant senior season in Southern California, hitting .526/.638/.814 and helping his high school to its first sectional title. He carried that performance over to the rookie-level Arizona League, where he had a solid debut. Freeman stands out most for his hittability and feel for the barrel. He makes consistent hard contact, is difficult to strike out and has a direct swing. He has some power, mostly when he can turn on the ball, but power is not expected to be a large part of his game. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop, but questions remain about his chances to stay at the position. He has an average arm and is an average runner, making a move across the bag to second base a possibility down the line. For now, however, the Indians will develop Freeman as a shortstop. Freeman is lauded for his makeup and instincts, which help his tools play up and will serve him well in his first full professional season, likely with short-season Mahoning Valley.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #97 prospect in 2017 draft
  San Bernardino County is generally overlooked in the nexus of southern California high school baseball, but Freeman forced people to pay attention with his performance. Playing at a school better known for its basketball prowess, Freeman hit over .500 in the regular season playing strong competition. Freeman's tools are largely average but they play up with his advanced instincts and motor. Offensively Freeman controls the barrel well and makes consistent hard contact with some nascent pull power, although he doesn't project for much pop long-term. His hands are solid and his arm is average, profiling better at second base than shortstop. Freeman is not overly physical or toolsy, but his well-rounded skillset, energetic play and excellent makeup appeal to a select group of teams talking about him in the top five rounds. He is committed to Texas Christian.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #10 prospect in 2019
  Freeman continued to show excellent bat-to-ball skills while keeping his career minor league batting average at .318 through 900 at-bats. The short-season New York-Penn League batting champion a year ago, Freeman hit .289/.378/.419 in 239 at-bats at low Class A Lake County before adding a dimension to Lynchburg’s offense. Questions continue about whether Freeman has the arm to stay at shortstop, and opinions were mixed among scouts and the league’s managers. He could wind up at second base but hitting for average will be his carrying tool. He hit .526 as a high school senior in Southern California, and that ability has translated to pro ball. Freeman was the 71st pick in the 2017 draft and was one of the youngest players in the Carolina League this season. He hasn’t shown home run power, but he does have 71 doubles and nine triples in 234 minor league games.
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #7 prospect in 2019
  Freeman ranked as one of the top high school hitters in the state of California and has done nothing but hit in a three-year pro career. He rocketed up prospect rankings with a loud 2019 season that began in the Midwest League. With power at the plate scouts view as “surprising” for his 5-foot-10 frame, Freeman shows exceptional management of the strike zone, while his bat speed and thorough understanding of his body have canceled out concerns about his size. He uses the whole field with gap-to-gap contact, and is athletic enough to remain at shortstop. “He’s going to be a special player. I just love him. I love his instincts and makeup,” a scout said. "The way he goes about his business, his approach, has fun out there. He barrels the ball and manipulates the bat head.”
• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #10 prospect in 2018
  Freeman has posted two excellent seasons thus far since being drafted 71st overall last year, including a 2018 campaign when he posted the highest batting average (.352) in the New York-Penn League. Although home run power isn’t there yet, Freeman recorded 35 extra-base hits and posted a gaudy .511 slugging percentage with Mahoning Valley this season. Freeman runs well and takes advantage of his contact-hitting ability, and managers around the league have noticed his quick hands and plus athleticism at shortstop, which will allow him to stay up the middle in the future. Freeman’s plus strike-zone management and athleticism create a bright future for the middle infielder. While his power may not develop into much more, his understanding of the game and contact-oriented bat will drive his value.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #63 prospect in 2022
• Ranked Baseball America's #82 prospect in 2021
• Ranked Baseball America's #69 prospect in 2020

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Freeman opened the 2022 season in Akron and played his way to the big leagues, debuting in August. He had a slow start in Cleveland, however, and did not make the playoff roster. Still, it was a solid year, as Freeman came back from a shoulder injury that cost him the second half of 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Freeman stands out most for his hittability and excellent feel for the barrel. He has a very aggressive approach at the plate and rarely walks as a result, but when he swings, he makes contact. While his pure hit tool is excellent, how much impact he'll provide offensively remains a question. His six home runs at Triple-A Columbus were a career high in just 72 games, but he otherwise struggled to produce power against upper-level pitchers. A return to his pre-surgery 2021 form when a third of his hits went for extra bases would be a big boost. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop and has primarily played there as a professional, but his average speed and arm strength limit his range and many evaluators question whether he's a long-term fit at the position. He played shortstop, second and third base in the big leagues and he could still settle at any of the three positions. A move off shortstop, however, would put more pressure on his bat and, especially, his power.
  
  The Future: Freeman will be 23 on Opening Day and will go to spring training competing for a spot on the roster. The Guardians have a very crowded middle infield, however, especially following strong 2022 seasons from Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez. Freeman has perhaps the best offensive potential of the group, but his defense is not as advanced and in breaking the logjam, Cleveland will have to decide what it values more. His versatility could help him carve out a role in Cleveland in the immediate future, while in the long run it will be up to his bat to earn him a full-time role.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 20. Speed: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Freeman opened the 2022 season in Akron and played his way to the big leagues, debuting in August. He had a slow start in Cleveland, however, and did not make the playoff roster. Still, it was a solid year, as Freeman came back from a shoulder injury that cost him the second half of 2021.
  
  Scouting Report: Freeman stands out most for his hittability and excellent feel for the barrel. He has a very aggressive approach at the plate and rarely walks as a result, but when he swings, he makes contact. While his pure hit tool is excellent, how much impact he'll provide offensively remains a question. His six home runs at Triple-A Columbus were a career high in just 72 games, but he otherwise struggled to produce power against upper-level pitchers. A return to his pre-surgery 2021 form when a third of his hits went for extra bases would be a big boost. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop and has primarily played there as a professional, but his average speed and arm strength limit his range and many evaluators question whether he's a long-term fit at the position. He played shortstop, second and third base in the big leagues and he could still settle at any of the three positions. A move off shortstop, however, would put more pressure on his bat and, especially, his power.
  
  The Future: Freeman will be 23 on Opening Day and will go to spring training competing for a spot on the roster. The Guardians have a very crowded middle infield, however, especially following strong 2022 seasons from Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez. Freeman has perhaps the best offensive potential of the group, but his defense is not as advanced and in breaking the logjam, Cleveland will have to decide what it values more. His versatility could help him carve out a role in Cleveland in the immediate future, while in the long run it will be up to his bat to earn him a full-time role.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 20. Speed: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 55/High
  
  Track Record: Since being drafted 71st overall in 2017 and signed away from his commitment to Texas Christian, Freeman has been the Guardians system&#39s most consistent hitter. He led the New York-Penn League in 2018 in a host of offensive categories, including batting average (.352) and slugging percentage (.511), as a 19-year-old. He followed that up with an impressive 2019, earning a promotion to high Class A Lynchburg in his first year of full-season ball. Freeman spent the canceled 2020 minor league season at Cleveland&#39s alternate training site and continued his previous ways when minor league play resumed in 2021. He was hitting .323 at Double-A in late June when he suffered a small tear in the labrum in his left shoulder. He briefly returned in July for five games but was unable to continue and ultimately had season-ending surgery in August.
  
  Scouting Report: Freeman stands out most for his hitting ability and excellent feel for the barrel. He has a very aggressive approach at the plate and rarely walks, but when he swings, he makes contact. He is a career .319/.378/.445 hitter with a miniscule 9.2% strikeout rate and projects to be at least a plus hitter. Though on the smaller side, Freeman has always had some projectable power with his bat speed and ability to consistently square balls up. That power began to manifest in 2020, when he arrived at the alternate site noticeably stronger following the coronavirus shutdown. In 2021, a third of his hits went for extra bases, although he still hit just two home runs. While Freeman will likely never be a major home-run threat, he posts solid exit velocities and does enough damage to keep pitchers honest. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop and continues to develop there. He&#39s improved his hands, infield actions and instincts, but he&#39s still an average runner with average arm strength and limited range. Second base remains his most likely future position, but his ability to play shortstop has continually exceeded expectations. He also saw time at third base in 2021 to enhance his versatility. Regardless of where Freeman ends up defensively, his bat will be his carrying tool and profiles just fine at second base.
  
  The Future: Freeman should be back to full health at the start of the 2022 season. Cleveland added him to the 40-man roster in November and, if he picks up where he left off, he could be in line for his major league debut sometime during the summer. He projects to be the Guardians&#39 everyday second baseman of the future and one of the club&#39s best pure hitters.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 40. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Since being drafted 71st overall in 2017 out of Etiwanda High, Freeman has been the most consistent hitter in Cleveland’s system. He led the New York-Penn League in 2018 in a host of offensive categories, including batting average (.352) and slugging percentage (.511), as a 19-year-old. He followed that up with an impressive 2019, earning a promotion to High-A Lynchburg in his first year of full-season ball. Freeman spent the canceled 2020 minor league season at Cleveland’s alternate training site and continued his previous ways when minor league play resumed in 2021. He was hitting .323 at Double-A in late June when he suffered a small tear in the labrum in his left shoulder. He briefly returned in July for five games but was unable to continue and ultimately had season-ending surgery in August. He has made good progress in his recovery and returned to baseball activities in December.
  
  Scouting Report: Freeman stands out most for his hitting ability and excellent feel for the barrel. He has a very aggressive approach at the plate and rarely walks, but when he swings, he makes contact. He is a career .319/.378/.445 hitter with a miniscule 9.2% strikeout rate and projects to be at least a plus hitter. His pure hit tool stands out as one of the best not just in the system, but in the minors overall, and his contact-based approach fits the organization’s philosophy well. Though on the smaller side, Freeman has always had some projectable power with his bat speed and ability to consistently square balls up. That power began to manifest in 2020, when he arrived at the alternate site noticeably stronger following the coronavirus shutdown. In 2021, a third of his hits went for extra bases, although he still hit just two home runs. While Freeman will likely never be a major home run threat, he posts solid exit velocities and does enough damage to keep pitchers honest. His ability to drive balls in the gaps combined with his average speed help him to produce plenty of doubles and he may grow into even more juice in time. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop and continues to develop there. He’s improved his hands, infield actions and instincts, but he’s still an average runner with average arm strength and limited range. Second base remains his most likely future position, but his ability to play shortstop has continually exceeded expectations as a professional. He also saw time at third base in 2021 to enhance his versatility. He earns praise for his competitiveness and work ethic, traits that have helped him outperform expectations defensively, as well as expand his offensive skill set. Regardless of where Freeman ends up defensively, his bat will be his carrying tool and profiles just fine at second base.
  
  The Future: Freeman should be back to full health at the start of the 2022 season. Cleveland added him to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft and he could be in line for his major league debut sometime during the summer. He projects to be the Guardians’ everyday second baseman of the future and one of the club’s best pure hitters.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 60. Power: 40. Running: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Freeman has been a top hitter at nearly every stop since the Indians drafted him in the supplemental second round in 2017. He led the short-season New York-Penn League in batting (.352) and slugging (.511) in 2018 and climbed to high Class A Lynchburg in 2019, where he hit .319/.354/.397 as a 20-year-old at two stops. The Indians brought him to their alternate training site in Eastlake, Ohio in 2020 with most of their other top prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Freeman stands out for his excellent hitting ability and natural feel for the barrel. He has a very aggressive approach and rarely walks, but when he swings, he makes contact. Freeman got stronger during the shutdown and started showing more power over the summer. His bat speed and ability to consistently square balls up give him double-digit home run power despite his modest size. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop and has improved his hands, infield actions and instincts. He's still an average runner with average arm strength, which limits his range and may push him to second base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Regardless of where he ends up defensively, Freeman's bat will stand out. He's likely to get his first taste of Double-A in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 60. Power: 40. Running: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Freeman has been a top hitter at nearly every stop since the Indians drafted him in the supplemental second round in 2017. He led the short-season New York-Penn League in batting (.352) and slugging (.511) in 2018 and climbed to high Class A Lynchburg in 2019, where he hit .319/.354/.397 as a 20-year-old at two stops. The Indians brought him to their alternate training site in Eastlake, Ohio in 2020 with most of their other top prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Freeman stands out for his excellent hitting ability and natural feel for the barrel. He has a very aggressive approach and rarely walks, but when he swings, he makes contact. Freeman got stronger during the shutdown and started showing more power over the summer. His bat speed and ability to consistently square balls up give him double-digit home run power despite his modest size. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop and has improved his hands, infield actions and instincts. He’s still an average runner with average arm strength, which limits his range and may push him to second base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Regardless of where he ends up defensively, Freeman’s bat will stand out. He’s likely to get his first taste of Double-A in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 60. Power: 40. Running: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Freeman has been a top hitter at nearly every stop since the Indians drafted him in the supplemental second round in 2017. He led the short-season New York-Penn League in batting (.352) and slugging (.511) in 2018 and climbed to high Class A Lynchburg in 2019, where he hit .319/.354/.397 as a 20-year-old at two stops. The Indians brought him to their alternate training site in Eastlake, Ohio in 2020 with most of their other top prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Freeman stands out for his excellent hitting ability and natural feel for the barrel. He has a very aggressive approach and rarely walks, but when he swings, he makes contact. Freeman got stronger during the shutdown and started showing more power over the summer. His bat speed and ability to consistently square balls up give him double-digit home run power despite his modest size. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop and has improved his hands, infield actions and instincts. He’s still an average runner with average arm strength, which limits his range and may push him to second base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Regardless of where he ends up defensively, Freeman’s bat will stand out. He’s likely to get his first taste of Double-A in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Freeman turned in a stellar first full pro season in 2018 that saw him lead the New York-Penn League in a host of offensive categories, including batting (.352) and slugging (.511), as a 19-year-old. He followed that with an impressive 2019, earning a promotion to high Class A Lynchburg in his first taste of full-season ball. Despite being one of the youngest players in the Carolina League, he more than held his own after his promotion to Lynchburg and is now a career .319/.379/.441 hitter.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Freeman stands out most for his hitting ability and excellent feel for the barrel. He has a very aggressive approach at the plate and rarely walks, but when he swings, he makes contact. Thanks to his ability to consistently square balls up, he has doubles pop now and may be able to add more power as he physically matures. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop and the Indians are developing him at that position. He’s shown improvement with his hands, infield actions and instincts. He’s still an average runner with average arm strength, however, which limits his range and might ultimately push him to second base, especially in a system with as many high-end defensive shortstops. Regardless of where he ends up defensively, his bat will stand out.
  
  THE FUTURE: Freeman is on the leading edge of the Indians’ group of young middle infielders, meaning he can move quickly through the system. That probably means he’s ready for Double-A Akron in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Freeman turned in a stellar first full pro season in 2018 that saw him lead the New York-Penn League in a host of offensive categories, including batting (.352) and slugging (.511), as a 19-year-old. He followed that with an impressive 2019, earning a promotion to high Class A Lynchburg in his first taste of full-season ball. Despite being one of the youngest players in the Carolina League, he more than held his own after his promotion to Lynchburg and is now a career .319/.379/.441 hitter.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Freeman stands out most for his hitting ability and excellent feel for the barrel. He has a very aggressive approach at the plate and rarely walks, but when he swings, he makes contact. Thanks to his ability to consistently square balls up, he has doubles pop now and may be able to add more power as he physically matures. Freeman was drafted as a shortstop and the Indians are developing him at that position. He's shown improvement with his hands, infield actions and instincts. He's still an average runner with average arm strength, however, which limits his range and might ultimately push him to second base, especially in a system with as many high-end defensive shortstops. Regardless of where he ends up defensively, his bat will stand out.
  
  THE FUTURE: Freeman is on the leading edge of the Indians' group of young middle infielders, meaning he can move quickly through the system. That probably means he's ready for Double-A Akron in 2020.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Freeman continued to show excellent bat-to-ball skills while keeping his career minor league batting average at .318 through 900 at-bats. The short-season New York-Penn League batting champion a year ago, Freeman hit .289/.378/.419 in 239 at-bats at low Class A Lake County before adding a dimension to Lynchburg’s offense. Questions continue about whether Freeman has the arm to stay at shortstop, and opinions were mixed among scouts and the league’s managers. He could wind up at second base but hitting for average will be his carrying tool. He hit .526 as a high school senior in Southern California, and that ability has translated to pro ball. Freeman was the 71st pick in the 2017 draft and was one of the youngest players in the Carolina League this season. He hasn’t shown home run power, but he does have 71 doubles and nine triples in 234 minor league games.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Freeman ranked as one of the top high school hitters in the state of California and has done nothing but hit in a three-year pro career. He rocketed up prospect rankings with a loud 2019 season that began in the Midwest League. With power at the plate scouts view as “surprising” for his 5-foot-10 frame, Freeman shows exceptional management of the strike zone, while his bat speed and thorough understanding of his body have canceled out concerns about his size. He uses the whole field with gap-to-gap contact, and is athletic enough to remain at shortstop. “He’s going to be a special player. I just love him. I love his instincts and makeup,” a scout said. "The way he goes about his business, his approach, has fun out there. He barrels the ball and manipulates the bat head.”