The Next Dodger Rookie SS
I used to have favorite players. My first was Sandy Koufax, followed by Ron Fairly. I loved Willie and Tommy Davis and Ron Cey. For a while, I had no favorites, and then Adrian Beltre burst on the scene. Later, it was Clayton Kershaw, but after that, I really did not have a…
I used to have favorite players. My first was Sandy Koufax, followed by Ron Fairly. I loved Willie and Tommy Davis and Ron Cey. For a while, I had no favorites, and then Adrian Beltre burst on the scene. Later, it was Clayton Kershaw, but after that, I really did not have a favorite player because, in some respects, they are like cattle that can be marketed. I know that some people think Miguel Vargas is my favorite, but they are wrong. I like Miguel’s bat-to-ball skills a lot. I like guys with those skills… guys like Keibert Ruiz and Alex Verdugo. Ruiz showed a lot of progress last year, hitting .260 with 18 HR and a .707 OPS, but is struggling this year. Alex Verdugo has not reached my expectations and remains an enigma.
I guess Miguel Vargas falls into that class, too, since the Dodgers ran him out there last year while he was hurt, but he won’t play him when he is healthy. It has been speculated that the Dodgers intend to trade him, which is why he is not playing. Maybe they think his .324 BA in 34 ABs will sway some trade partners. I still think Miguel will be a special player, but Andrew Friedman is in charge and he is never wrong… right? Well, I was right, and he was wrong about Lux being a SS, so there is that. But he was right in trading Ruiz and Verdugo… and Busch, for that matter. Vargas will likely have to blossom somewhere else as well.
However, I do again have a new favorite player. It is Alex Freeland of the Tulsa Drillers. Alex was drafted in the 3rd Round (#105) in the 2022 Draft. Alex is a switch hitter and was a SS at the University of Central Florida… and not many people thought he could stay at SS when he was drafted. I was one of those as well, but I have changed my mind. I think Alex is the Dodgers SS of the future. This was so highly improbable 22 years ago, before Alex was born. An ultrasound revealed that Freeland might be born with a clubfoot, a condition where one or both feet are twisted out of position. He was indeed born with his right foot misaligned and spent his first year undergoing various procedures to correct it.
As an infant,Alex wore tiny casts that he frequently kicked off. At four months old, he had surgery to lengthen his tendons. Three months later, he underwent what his father describes as a full foot reconstruction. Freeland learned to walk with a cast reaching up to his hip, a challenge that has given him a slightly stilted gait… still. Despite all this—every kicked-off cast, every surgery—jump throws from shortstop were a distant dream. He is not without limitations — his right foot and calf are smaller than their counterparts, and he has limited flexibility in that ankle — but he has always managed to overcome them. The Athletic wrote a piece on him and said this:
“But he’s never allowed himself to be defined by his foot, and he’s determined to succeed or fail on his own merit. He’s in the right place to do it. The Dodgers drafted him there because they think he’ll hit and stick in the middle of the infield. They knew his backstory — “We definitely noticed it,” says amateur scouting director Billy Gasparino — and they weren’t concerned.
–– Zach Buchanan, The Athletic
“I’m just another kid playing the game of baseball,” Freeland says. “If I suck, tell me I suck. Don’t blame it on my foot.”
After all, he never has.“
Alex Freeland is a baseball player, a baller, and a shortstop. Being called a “ballplayer” is the highest compliment a baseball player can get, in my humble opinion. Alex Freeland is not going to be a superstar. I have no illusions about that. But I do think that Alex can be the team captain and anchor the infield while hitting .270 with a .360 OB% and .750 OPS. He will come up big in the clutch and play up to his competition.
Alex will likely hit the Show in 2026, so I see Mookie and Miggy Rojas still at SS in 2025. In 2026, Rojas will be in the Dodger’s Front Office, and Mookie will be their 2B. Memo to Andrew Friedman: Do not sign Willy Adames as a Free Agent, because Freeland is going to be the next Dodgers SS. Trade Trey Sweeney. Keep Noah Miller… he’s young! He’s a switch-hitter and very athletic. Yes. Keep him… he’s the next Swiss-Army-Knife.” Freeland will be solid, if not spectacular.
Alex Freeland should not be walking in a straight line, let alone playing shortstop at the AA level at age 22. I am not saying that he’s going to be an All-Star, but he has exceeded expectations in everything he has done – I would not bet against my new favorite player. He’s just a baseball player. He’s a baller!
Why is Joe Kelly on the Team?
Mookie Betts says that Joe Kelly is the guy he would least like to face. Why? Because as he says, “Joe Kelly does not care!” Joe Kelly is an assassin! Getting him healthy and keeping him that way is paramount. He is made for October. Let’s hope he is available.
Rants & Raves
- I hear that the Dodgers do not believe Lipcius can play a credible 3B. Trejo is now playing 3B with Hoese.
- Austin Gauthier is a guy who can also be the new Kike Hernandez!
- A shout-out to Eric, who has been on his best behavior and has added a lot to this site. I like this version of Eric.
- My wife and I watched a great movie last night, and I highly recommend it: CIVIL WAR
X-CITES
Happy Independence Day
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Discussion (60)
Disagree, not disagreeable
wouldn’t it be nice if the dodgers had hitters 1-9 like the d-backs? sorry, didn’t mean to be negative, but damn! i know, no mookie, no muncy. 5-9. awful!
Diamond backs act like they own the dodgers!! Poor Barnes!! Has no arm!!
1. Granted that the injuries to Muncy and Betts have shortened this line up but when 5 of your bottom 6 position players are Hernandez, Taylor, Lux, Heyward, Barnes, and Biggio you have made some miscalculations in constructing your roster. Every GM with money would have signed Ohtani, Freeman, and Betts. The last three seasons the Dodgers’ FO has not been particularly good at filling out depth among position players.
2. Of course, their inability to develop position players in their system has been addressed here before. That has definitely contributed to this lack of depth among position players.
3. At this point, play Vargas most nights against lefties and righties. I know we are all yelling into the abyss with this one but he can’t be any worse against righties than Heyward.
4. Given his weak throwing arm and bat, Austin Barnes must be incredible handling a pitching staff. Although in fairness to Barnes, his weaknesses as a hitter are more frustrating when he is batting ninth behind Lux, Taylor, Hernandez, Biggio, etc.
5. Would like to see Kyle Hurt get a chance in the Dodger bullpen soon.
6. Not saying that Padres and Diamondbacks will catch the Dodgers in the West but even with Betts and Muncy back, those two teams would be tough in a playoff series. Dbacks line up is deep and their athleticism and running game are an advantage against the Dodgers.
Hey people!!!!!
Good mood and good luck to everyone!!!!!
Dogs days….nothing to see here.
Lets win tonight!!!
well i guess Ole Barnsie earns a star for last night. a single, a stolen base, and 2 rbi. that’s better than the top did! if Im. not mistaken, he has a higher average than Lux, heyward, taylor, biggio, and kiki!
He left with an injury last night.