Cody Freeman didn’t enter the season ranked among the Rangers’ top 30 prospects—or as a member of the 40-man roster—but the versatile 24-year-old ended it as a key contributor to a Texas team that battled for a wild card.
Freeman started games at six positions—every one but catcher and center field—this season between MLB and Triple-A Round Rock. Primarily a second baseman and third baseman, he added an upgraded offensive dimension this season and dwarfed his previous career highs in many offensive categories.
His .336 batting average led the Pacific Coast League. His .931 OPS ranked fifth. He hit 19 home runs and, counting his MLB time, topped 20 for the first time in his career.
“It’s nothing too much different than what I’ve done in the previous years,” Freeman said. “It’s just part of the development and part of the reason we have minor league levels. You try to strive each and every year, and each and every day.”
The Rangers drafted Freeman in the fourth round in 2019 out of Etiwanda High in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., the same program that produced his older brother Tyler, a Rockies utility player this year. Despite his talent and bloodlines, Cody slipped in the draft because he is 5-foot-8.
He certainly stood tall this season, and answered the call when the Rangers needed him.
Early in his pro career, Freeman played catcher as much as infield and made his first Cactus League appearances behind the plate in 2023. The Rangers had him focus on infield the past two seasons, and his bat has taken off.
He has noticed being more focused late in games, as opposed to having some mental and physical fatigue as a catcher. His strikeout rate improved drastically this year, falling from 18% at Double-A to nearly 9% at Triple-A.
More than anything, the Rangers acknowledge Freeman as a winner. There isn’t a stat to measure that, but the Rangers love the way he plays the game. They have praised him for infusing energy into a team that underachieved much of the season.
“He is a catalyst,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He’s a spark for the club, the way he plays but also getting hits and finding a way to get on base.”
Rangers Roundup
— Double-A Frisco shortstop Sebastian Walcott collected a hit in all 12 September games he played. His .981 OPS for the month pushed his season batting line to .255/.355/.386 with 13 home runs and 32 stolen bases. He is one of eight Rangers prospects who will participate in the Arizona Fall League.
— The Rangers selected righthander Adrian Rodriguez as their top minor league reliever in August after posting a 1.10 ERA and .111 opponent average for High-A Hub City. A 39th-round pick in 2019, Rodriguez struck out 69 batters in 40.2 innings at three minor league stops.