TORONTO — New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge leads baseball with a 1.135 OPS this season. Outfielder Rafael Palmeiro set the Texas Rangers single-season record with a 1.050 OPS in 1999. Only a dozen players all time have posted a 1.200 OPS or better in a year.
Those are references to contextualize the following: Rangers infielder Cody Freeman, in the three-plus weeks he spent at Triple-A Round Rock between his two major league stints, posted a 1.253 OPS in 18 games.
Consider his message received.
“Your dream comes true, you go back down and you’re just hungry to come back here,” Freeman said Sunday morning inside the Rogers Centre visitor’s clubhouse. “It’s given me confidence.”
Rangers
The Rangers recalled Freeman before Sunday’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays in place of outfielder Sam Haggerty. Haggerty, who was placed on the 10-day injured list, reaggravated an existing ankle injury in Saturday’s loss.
Related:What Jon Gray going on IL could mean for his future with Texas Rangers
It gives Freeman — one the hottest hitters in the minor leagues since his last stay with the big league club — another potential runway for impact. He started at third base in Sunday’s game vs. the Blue Jays and is expected to be used across the field.
“We’re looking for a little help offensively,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Sunday morning. “With what he’s been doing, this is something he’s earned.”
Freeman went 2 for 9 in his first-ever major league stint with the Rangers from July 18-23 and was reassigned to Round Rock after Haggerty returned from his first ankle-related injured list stay. Freeman went 1 for 5 Sunday vs. Toronto, doubling and scoring a run in the fourth inning in the Rangers’ 10-4 victory.
The 24-year-old former fourth-round pick slashed a ludicrous .429/.453/.800 with seven home runs in 70 at-bats with the Express after he was optioned back down. He took a late-night Saturday flight to New York and didn’t meet the team in Toronto until Sunday morning.
“It just motivates all of us to come back up,” Freeman said of his first big league stay. “Guys that have gotten called back up and called back down, we all have the same mindset, we all want to get back up there.”
Former Texas Rangers 1B Nathaniel Lowe finalizing deal with Red Sox, per reportsIf the Texas Rangers are to claw back into contention, they’ll have to look to their stars
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.