TYLER FREEMAN NEWS

Saturday's Transactions BASEBALL Major League Baseball American League CLEVELAND GJUARDIANS — Recalled SS Tyler Freeman from Columbus (IL).

MAY 6, 2023 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Back in big leagues Freeman was recalled by the Guardians on Saturday.

Impact Freeman spent a few days in the big leagues in April, going 2-for-7 with a double and a walk. Combined with his slightly longer cameo last season, he's now hitting .250/.319/.298 with 94 MLB plate appearances. His Triple-A numbers suggest promise, as he's hit .329/.468/.482 with 100 steals in 22 games this season, but he doesn't seem to have a path to anything more than a utility role. Oscar Gonzalez was optioned in a corresponding move.

MAY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Cleveland optioned Freeman to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Impact The move opens up a spot on the 26-man roster for Logan Allen with Allen starting Sunday's game against the Marlins. The right-handed hitting infielder went 2-for-7 in a brief cup of coffee with the Guardians and will return to regular playing time in the International League.

APRIL 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to lineup Saturday Freeman (shoulder) is hitting eighth and playing third base against the Marlins on Saturday for the second game of a doubleheader.

Impact Freeman has missed the past few games with a shoulder injury, but he'll return for the second game of a twin bill. Jose Ramirez will be the designated hitter for the contest with Gabriel Arias handling the shortstop duties and Amed Rosario out of the lineup.

APRIL 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Hurts shoulder Tuesday Freeman didn't appear in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Tigers due to an apparent left shoulder injury, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Impact Though neither Freeman nor Amed Rosario (back) have been placed on the injured list, their poor health explains why the Guardians felt compelled to call up top middle-infield prospect Brayan Rocchio from Triple-A Columbus ahead of Wednesday's game. After being recalled ahead of Tuesday's doubleheader to help replace an ailing Rosario at shortstop, Freeman went 2-for-4 at the dish in the Guardians' 4-3 loss in Game 1 but appeared to hurt his shoulder while defending a stolen-base attempt in the fourth inning. After a team off day Thursday, the Guardians will presumably reassess both Rosario and Freeman before determining whether either infielder requires a stint on the IL.

APRIL 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from Triple-A Freeman was recalled from Triple-A Columbus by the Guardians on Tuesday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Impact Freeman is off to a blazing start at Columbus with a 1.100 OPS, two home runs and five stolen bases. The infielder might only be around for a few days while Enyel De Los Santos is on paternity leave.

APRIL 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Behind The Guardians Decision To Option Tyler Freeman The Cleveland Guardians made the difficult decision to option Tyler Freeman to the Minors.

MARCH 22, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Optioned to Triple-A Freeman was optioned to Triple-A Columbus by the Guardians on Tuesday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Impact Freeman hasn't hit much this spring, going just 5-for-34 at the plate. It appears that the Guardians will carry Gabriel Arias and/or Richie Palacios as utility options on the Opening Day roster.

MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Will get outfield look Freeman will play some outfield during spring training to gain positional versatility, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Impact When the Guardians are fully healthy, there doesn't appear to be an everyday spot available for Freeman. The 23-year-old will look to add more positions to his ledger, making him an option when injuries occur, though he still needs to hit well enough to grab a bench spot out of camp.

FEBRUARY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Why The Guardians Chose Owen Miller Over Tyler Freeman Cleveland optioned Tyler Freeman to Triple-A in a series of roster moves on Saturday afternoon.

OCTOBER 2, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Cleveland Guardians add Bo Naylor, Zach Pleac; DFA Bryan Shaw, option Tyler Freeman With the departure of Bryan Shaw, Jose Ramirez is the only player left from the 2016 team that went to Game 7 of the World Series.

OCTOBER 1, 2022 • CLEVELAND.COM

Sent down Saturday Freeman was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday.

Impact Freeman had lost out on playing time recently, as he was in the lineup for just two of the last 10 games. The 23-year-old will be cast off the active roster as part of a move after Bo Naylor's contract was selected Saturday.

OCTOBER 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sits against righty again Freeman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.

Impact After starting in the final three games of the Guardians' series with the Twins that ended Monday, Freeman finds himself on the bench for the second game in a row. Both of his absences from the lineup have come against right-handed pitchers (Dylan Cease and Lance Lynn), and the righty-hitting Freeman may find himself in a de facto platoon moving forward with lefty-hitting outfielder Will Brennan, who was called up from Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday and is starting in right field.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Tuesday Freeman isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's matchup against the White Sox, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact Freeman will get a day off after his 1-for-5 effort Monday against the Twins. Josh Naylor slots in as the designated hitter. Owen Miller starts at first base, batting seventh.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Picking up playing time Freeman will start at third base and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Twins, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Impact He'll pick up his third consecutive start in a row, all of which have come against right-handed pitchers. Through his first 72 big-league plate appearances, Freeman is slashing .254/.333/.302, but the Guardians may view that modest level of production as an upgrade over what the slumping Owen Miller is currently providing. Miller, who is on the bench for the fourth time in six games, owns a .579 OPS in the second half.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Tyler Freeman Taking Advantage Of Limited At Bats With The Guardians Tyler Freeman isn’t playing every day but he has an impact bat when he’s in the Guardians lineup.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 • SACBEE.COM

Registers first steal Freeman went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 7-2 win over the Blue Jays.

Impact Freeman has seen inconsistent playing time since his promotion Aug. 3, appearing in just six games. He's batting .250 with a stolen base and two runs scored through 20 plate appearances, and he's yet to see a hit go for extra bases. With Andres Gimenez, Amed Rosario and Jose Ramirez around, Freeman has no clear path to playing time in the infield, so an uptick in usage shouldn't be expected.

AUGUST 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

On bench again Freeman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.

Impact Following his promotion from Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday, Freeman went 2-for-8 with two walks and a run while drawing three straight starts at three different positions in the infield. Despite the respectable start to his big-league career, Freeman will be on the bench Sunday for the second contest in a row and looks like he'll have to settle for a utility role while he's up with the big club.

AUGUST 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nothing But Smiles For Tyler Freeman In Guardians And MLB Debut Tyler Freeman recorded his first Major League hit in Guardians debut.

AUGUST 4, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

WATCH: Tyler Freeman Gets First Major League Hit In Guardians Debut Tyler Freeman got his first hit as a Guardian in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s game.

AUGUST 3, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Guardians promote Tyler Freeman, option Ernie Clement to Triple-A Freeman, Cleveland's No. 6 prospect, will make his major league debut against Arizona on Tuesday.

AUGUST 3, 2022 • CLEVELAND.COM

Promotion official The Guardians recalled Freeman from Triple-A Columbus ahead of Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks. He'll start at third base and bat seventh in his MLB debut.

Impact Cleveland optioned Ernie Clement to Columbus in a corresponding move, and Freeman is expected to take over Clement's role as the Guardians' top utility infielder. In Wednesday's series finale, Jose Ramirez is getting a day out of the field and handling the designated-hitter role, and he could find himself in a non-defensive role more frequently in the wake of Franmil Reyes being optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday. If that ends up being the case, Freeman could have a path to play regularly at the hot corner, but the 23-year-old will have to perform well to ensure he sticks in the everyday lineup. Over 343 plate appearances at Triple-A this season, Freeman turned in a .279/.371/.364 slash line with six home runs and six stolen bases.

AUGUST 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Headed to majors The Guardians plan to call up Freeman from Triple-A Columbus prior to Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Impact Cleveland isn't be known to be dealing with any injuries to its infielders, so Freeman's promotion may just be a matter of the organization rewarding him for his hot hitting at Columbus of late. Though he owns a .735 OPS for the season at Triple-A, Freeman recorded hits in all but one of his last 15 starts while slashing .400/.478/.500 with two home runs, three stolen bases and a 6:5 BB:K over that stretch. Freeman, who has picked up starts at second base, third base and shortstop at Triple-A this season, could unseat Ernie Clement as Cleveland's top utility infielder.

AUGUST 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ugly results in Triple-A Freeman is hitting just .220/.333/.319 with three homers, two steals and a 10:18 BB:K through 35 games for Triple-A Columbus.

Impact While no one expected Freeman to muscle up and start hitting homers in bunches, he's been utterly punchless this season. It's been particularly bad over his last 16 games, in which Freeman has managed a brutal .175/.307/.270 line with a couple home runs and no other extra-base hits. Generally considered something of a doubles machine, the 23-year-old hasn't hit a two-bagger since way back on May 19. The only positives to take away from this season so far are that Freeman has kept his strikeout rate low and that his BABIP is an unlucky .233. If he can get back to what made him successful in the lower levels of the minors, Freeman could grow into a contact-heavy starter at second base, but this season has mostly been a step backward so far.

JUNE 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Set to join Triple-A club Freeman (shoulder) will report to Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday and is expected to be activated from the 7-day injured list in advance of the affiliate's game against Louisville,...

Impact Freeman looks ready to make his Triple-A debut and his first minor-league appearance since July 25 of last season after a nine-month recovery from a left shoulder injury that ultimately required surgery. The Guardians could initially look to manage Freeman's workload coming off the injury by deploying him as a designated hitter, but he's expected to eventually settle into an everyday role at shortstop, third base or second base. If Freeman is able to rediscover his pre-injury form and pick up where he left off at Akron -- he posted an .842 OPS in 180 plate appearances in 2021 -- he could be in store for his first big-league call-up at some point in the second half of the season.

APRIL 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE