Freeland, who graduated from Mariner in 2020, worked his way through the Dodgers system after playing at UCF and will join the team in Cincinnati.
Injuries have plagued the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, but a Southwest Florida prospect will benefit.
Alex Freeland, a 2020 Mariner graduate, was called up Tuesday, July 29 by the club and is set to make his MLB debut with the club during their series in Cincinnati. The Dodgers face the Reds starting at 7:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park a day after taking the first game of the series 5-2.
Freeland is the top infield prospect in the Dodgers' system, ranked No. 3 overall, and is MLB's No. 35 prospect as rated by MLB.com.
"All the countless hours of work he has put in and now he gets the call," Mariner coach Tom Woodley said on Instagram. "So deserving. Give them HELL Freak and keep Living the Dream!!!"
A spate of Dodgers injuries opened the door for Freeland. The Dodgers placed Hyeseong Kim on the 10-day injured list with a shoulder injury to make room for Freeland. Kike Hernandez (elbow) and Max Muncy (knee) are already on the injured list. Tommy Edman reaggravated his ankle on Sunday but was in the lineup as the starting third baseman on Tuesday.
“He's going to come, and we'll see what direction we go, with who,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said told the Los Angeles Times. “We're just kind of trying to figure out ... if we do need to make a move for one of those guys."
Here are three things to know about Freeland.
Alex Freeland is second SWFL product to debut this year
The switch-hitter joins Riverdale High graduate Carson Palmquist, who also made his MLB debut this season. Palmquist pitched to a 0-4 record with a 7.63 ERA, striking out 22 over 30 2/3 innings with the Colorado Rockies, but was sent down to Triple-A Albuquerque on June 22.
At Triple-A Oklahoma City, Freeland hit .253 with 12 home runs, 71 RBI, and posted a .799 OPS across 94 games played, adding 69 runs and 17 stolen bases. For his career, Freeland is a .253 hitter with 42 home runs, 208 RBI, and 81 stolen bases.
Despite playing in Southwest Florida for three seasons together, the two never faced off in high school.
Alex Freeland starred at Mariner
Before signing with UCF, Freeland had three productive years at Mariner before the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the majority of his senior season. He was a .323 hitter with the Tritons, launching 9 home runs with 63 RBI.
Freeland was off to a hot start in his senior year, batting .429 with five doubles in 28 at-bats. His sophomore season saw him hit .418 with 12 extra-base hits, 22 RBI, and 28 runs scored. For his career, he finished with 62 walks against 36 strikeouts.
With the Knights, Freeland was a .285 hitter, mashing 18 home runs while adding 75 RBI in his two seasons in Orlando. He was then selected by the Dodgers in the third round (105th overall) in 2022.
Alex Freeland joins two Mariner Tritons as Major Leaguers
Freeland joins Mike Zunino and Casey Coleman as Mariner alumni to have played in the Big Leagues.
Zunino was the No. 3 pick in the 2012 MLB Draft after three seasons with Florida, while Coleman went in the 15th round to the Chicago Cubs in the 2008 MLB Draft out of FGCU.
It took Zunino all of a year to make the show after a hot start in the minors on June 12, 2013, while Coleman made his debut with the Cubs on Aug. 2, 2010.
Freeland, 23, will aim to find his footing at the highest level of baseball, hoping to be a mainstay on an annual playoff contender.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Alex Freeland set to make Major League debut with Los Angeles Dodgers
Category: Baseball
