This story was excerpted from Sonja Chen’s Dodgers Beat publication. To learn the total publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.
Alex Freeland was drafted and developed as a shortstop, however when he was known as as much as the Dodgers final week, he knew he seemingly would not see a lot, if any, time at his pure place. MLB Pipeline’s No. 3 Dodgers prospect (No. 35 total) ended up getting his first 4 large league begins at third base.
“Wherever they want me,” he stated, “I will be prepared.”
Now, Freeland’s capacity to be versatile can be put to the take a look at.
When Freeland was promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis, it was unclear how lengthy his first stint with the Dodgers would final, provided that third baseman Max Muncy was getting near a return from a virtually five-week absence as a result of a bone bruise in his left knee. However when Tommy Edman aggravated his nagging proper ankle whereas operating the bases on Sunday, that opened the door for Freeland to increase his keep within the large leagues.
Freeland remained with the Dodgers, and though he might not have as many alternatives at third base now that Muncy is again, he ought to see a good quantity of taking part in time at second base, at the very least till Hyeseong Kim returns from an IL stint as a result of left shoulder bursitis.
“Alex goes to take some extra balls at second base,” supervisor Dave Roberts instructed reporters, together with MLB.com’s Sarah Wexler, on Monday afternoon at Dodger Stadium. “He will play second base tomorrow, after which on Wednesday, he will chill over to 3rd base. However I believe for Alex, it implies that he will simply see some extra time at second base.”
In components of 4 Minor League seasons, Freeland spent by far probably the most time at shortstop, with third base a distant second. He additionally made 9 begins at second base — together with one this 12 months — and has a 1.000 fielding share in a restricted pattern of 78 innings on the place.
In the intervening time, Freeland will seemingly share time at second base with veteran Miguel Rojas, who drew the beginning on the keystone on Monday night time. Freeland is a switch-hitter however has constantly been higher from the left-hand facet all through his Minor League profession, recording an .828 OPS vs. righties and a .709 OPS vs. lefties this 12 months with Oklahoma Metropolis.
Freeland may also spell Muncy as wanted, a wise association provided that the Dodgers’ beginning third baseman was out of massive league motion for a month. Muncy is ready to get a day without work on Wednesday, leaving the recent nook open for Freeland.
Getting an extended take a look at the Main League stage could possibly be a giant alternative for Freeland. He seemed strong in his first 4 video games, going 4-for-13 with some arduous contact and choosing up his first RBI. There was fairly a little bit of swing-and-miss within the early going, although, as he is struck out six instances towards one stroll in 15 plate appearances.
That small pattern doesn’t essentially say a lot about how Freeland matches up towards large league pitching. With a bit extra time on his facet, maybe the 23-year-old may construct a case to stay with the Dodgers even after gamers resembling Kim and Edman return from the IL. The previous could possibly be again comparatively quickly, whereas the latter doesn’t but have a timetable to return.
