Tyler Freeman spent years as one of the more familiar names in the Cleveland Guardians’ system, and now he is getting a fresh start. The 27-year-old utility player spent the last two seasons with the Colorado Rockies after Cleveland traded him away, and he became a free agent this offseason. He did not have to wait long for a new opportunity. On Thursday, Freeman agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Braves.
“Former Cleveland #Guardians (INF/OF) Tyler Freeman has agreed to a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves that includes an invite to MLB spring training for the 2027 season,” Guardians Prospective wrote.
Former Cleveland #Guardians (INF/OF) Tyler Freeman has agreed to a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves that includes an invite to MLB spring training for the 2027 season.
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) November 12, 2026
That invitation gives Freeman a chance to compete for a bench spot in Atlanta next spring. His biggest selling point is versatility. He has played second base, third base, shortstop and all three outfield spots in the majors, which makes him a useful depth piece for any contender.
Cleveland fans watched him come up through the system. The organization drafted Freeman in the second round in 2017 out of Etiwanda High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California, and he developed a reputation as one of the best pure contact hitters in the farm system. He made his big league debut on Aug. 3, 2022, against Arizona and collected a hit in his first game.
His time in Cleveland was a mixed bag. Over three seasons with the Guardians, Freeman hit .223 with 11 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 206 games. His most notable stretch came in 2024, when the club moved him to center field and he played 118 games, hitting seven home runs and stealing 11 bases. His bat never fully took off, though, and Cleveland traded him to Colorado that December for outfielder Nolan Jones.
Freeman’s first season with the Rockies was the best of his career. In 2025, he hit .281 with a .354 on base percentage, 20 doubles and 18 stolen bases in 110 games, posting a .715 OPS. He struggled to build on that this year. Freeman hit .247 with a .630 OPS and three home runs in 79 games. Colorado let him go after the season.
Over five big league seasons, Freeman owns a .247 average, a .323 on base percentage, 16 home runs and 41 stolen bases. He has never had much power, but he rarely strikes out and has shown he can handle a variety of positions.
There is a family angle to the move as well. Freeman’s younger brother, Cody, is also a professional infielder, and baseball has long been a big part of their family.
Atlanta has a strong track record of finding value in veterans on minor league deals, and Freeman will have every chance to prove he belongs. For Guardians fans who remember the promise he showed as a prospect, it will be worth watching to see if a change of scenery finally helps him put it all together.
NEXT: Guardians Are Favorites To Sign Intriguing Outfield Prospect
