'opportunity Is Present.' Alex Freeland Trying To Take Advantage Of Reps At Second Base

PHOENIX — For 24-year-old Alex Freeland, nan clip is now.

After nan switch-hitting mediate infielder enjoyed a cup of java successful nan large leagues past season, he’s trying to break campy pinch nan Dodgers and get accrued playing clip astatine 2nd guidelines pinch seasoned Tommy Edman expected to beryllium connected nan injured database arsenic he useful his measurement backmost from correct ankle surgery.

Freeland, who played 29 games pinch nan Dodgers past season, and second-year inferior man Hyeseong Kim, who played 71 games and was connected nan postseason roster, are among those vying for playing clip astatine nan commencement of nan season, pinch seasoned Miguel Rojas and and nonroster induce Santiago Espinal besides successful nan mix.

Kim, who started Cactus League games astatine 2nd guidelines and halfway field, precocious departed for nan World Baseball Classic arsenic he competes for Team South Korea, opening a doorway for Freeland to get much reps successful nan bosom of nan Cactus League season.

“Opportunity is present, truthful I’m trying to make nan astir of it,” Freeland said. “It sucks that Tommy’s not fresh and he won’t beryllium fresh for nan opening of nan season. He’s a large portion of this team, truthful I wish him a ace speedy betterment and I dream that he gets retired location arsenic quickly arsenic possible. But yeah, pinch Hyeseong being gone, I americium getting much reps astatine 2nd and short, truthful I’m conscionable trying to make nan astir of them.”

Freeland entered past play arsenic MLB Pipeline’s No. 45 wide prospect. Though he posted a .190/.292/.310 slash statement astatine nan large convention level, imaginable expert Jim Callis still has precocious hopes for Freeland.

“Freeland doesn’t person a wow instrumentality but he does a batch of things well,” Callis said. “His champion property is astir apt his defense astatine shortstop and versatility to play different positions. He’s a switch-hitter who draws a batch of walks and has immoderate sneaky pop. He’s conscionable an mean runner, but his instincts let him to play quicker than that.”

As a switch-hitter, Freeland has had much occurrence from nan near broadside than nan right. He worked connected his plaything from some sides of nan sheet complete nan offseason and feels he’s successful a bully place.

“My right-handed hitting could beryllium better,” Freeland said. “I mean, portion of my crippled is walking, truthful I felt for illustration I wasn’t diligent astatine nan correct times past year. Sometimes I was excessively patient, conscionable taking pitches down nan middle. Walking is simply a large portion of my game, truthful I’m looking to walk, and I consciousness for illustration I’ve done that this outpouring training.”

Freeland has drawn 8 walks successful 24 sheet appearances successful Cactus League play, and Dodgers head Dave Roberts has been impressed pinch what he has seen this spring.

“Maturity,” Roberts said. “Playing some sides of nan shot really well. The bat, right-handed looks really good. Lefty is typically his beardown side, but I for illustration nan right-handed at-bats. Just playing pinch a batch of existent confidence.”

If it weren’t for nan Dodgers’ star-studded roster, Callis believes Freeland’s chances astatine playing clip would beryllium better.

“On a batch of teams, Freeland would beryllium getting a chance to compete for nan starting shortstop job, but he’s blocked connected nan Dodgers,” Callis said. “He’s astir apt looking astatine much of a inferior domiciled than starting successful Los Angeles, and he could beryllium charismatic to different clubs successful waste and acquisition talks too.”

Freeland, however, is embracing his domiciled and hopes to gain his stripes. He’s tried to soak up arsenic overmuch arsenic he tin from nan seasoned stars he’s been capable to walk clip with.

“Miggy Ro has ever sewage thing bully to say. Muncy, Freddie, I mean they’ve been astir truthful long, they’ve seen truthful galore different things, truthful it’s for illustration immoderate I person a mobility about, for illustration I tin easy spell and talk to 1 of them, and they’ve sewage an reply for me,” Freeland said of Rojas, Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman. “And it’s awesome to person guys for illustration that successful nan clubhouse.”

Freeland grew up an Atlanta Braves instrumentality and admired Freeman for years. Freeland ne'er imagined he 1 time would stock a locker room pinch nan nine-time All-Star first baseman, who spent nan first 12 years of his profession successful Atlanta.

“I watched Freddie increasing up and Mookie,” Freeland said of Freeman and Betts. “So, I mean, it’s benignant of for illustration a full-circle moment, for illustration I watched Freddie a batch erstwhile he was pinch nan Braves, coming up, because I lived successful Georgia, truthful for illustration I’d spell and watch insignificant convention games and spot him successful Gwinett.”