Tyler Freeman Gives Guardians Glimpse Of Power In Final Series

Originally posted on FanNation Cleveland Baseball Insider
By Tommy Wild | Last updated 10/2/23

It took Tyler Freeman over a year after being called up to get his first Major League home run. But he quickly racked up a handful of blasts after getting the first one out of the way.

Freeman hit his first homer on August 26 against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Three games later, he hit another blast deep to center field at Progressive Field. Unfortunately, this came in the Minnesota Twins' route over the Guardians which effectively ended their season so it was quickly overlooked.

The next two home runs came in Cleveland's final series of the season.

Freeman rocked a three-run homer on Friday night in the series opener against the Detroit Tigers. This ball had an exit velocity of 91.8 and would've been a home run in every ballpark in baseball. Freeman's mile rounding third base perfectly sums up what a welcome surprise this was.

Then he did it again in the season finale on Sunday. This home run was almost a carbon copy of the one earlier in the series with a slightly lower projected distance.

Any player showing they can hit for distance is a welcome sign for the Guardians team. They hit the fewest home runs in baseball for the second consecutive season and a power bat will once again be on the front office's wish list this offseason.

Freeman put together a very respectable season considering the circumstances. He finished 2023 with a slash line. of.243/.302/.339 but rarely got back-to-back starts and sporadic playing time.

Hopefully, the Guardians can find Tyler a more consistent role in 2024 because there's still a ton of untapped potential.

This article first appeared on FanNation Cleveland Baseball Insider and was syndicated with permission.

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