The Cleveland Guardians keep showing the world that what they lack in financial resources, they more than make up for it with their player development staff and prospect depth.
It’s hard to picture a team that has made so many minor leaguers debut this year in MLB.
Steven Kwan, Owen Miller, Alex Call, Will Benson, and Nolan Jones are just a handful of examples.
The latest name to play in the best league in the world is infielder Tyler Freeman.
The Guardians defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday afternoon, 7-4, behind a 450-feet home run by Amed Rosario.
Freeman, however, also had his moment to shine.
An Impressive Debut
He didn’t homer, but had his first big league hit after lacing a line-drive single to right field in the sixth inning.
“The first of many, many more to come. Congratulations, @tyler_freeman34!” Bally Sports Cleveland tweeted, with a video of the cool moment.
The first of many, many more to come. Congratulations, @tyler_freeman34!#ForTheLand | @CleGuardians pic.twitter.com/JJGxdciAhJ
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) August 3, 2022
The Guardians have some impressive depth in the minor leagues: they constantly produce capable players.
Shortstop, and the infield in particular, is a position of strength in the organization.
Here is what Eric Longenhagen, FanGraphs’ prospect evaluator, said about him before the season started:
“Freeman rakes, making an extremely high rate of low-impact contact while playing a decent middle infield. He’s generated lots of David Fletcher comps because his frame, bat-to-ball skills, expansive approach, and more natural defensive fit at second base are all akin to Fletcher’s.”
He isn’t a zero in the power department, as his six Triple-A homers suggest, but that’s not really his game.
What he does is get on base, as his .279/.371/.364 line indicates.
He is a top-ten prospect in the organization.
Can he win more playing time and stick in Cleveland for the rest of the year?
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