KCB
Tyler Freeman, OF
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Scouting report
I slid Freeman behind Rocchio (he ranked ahead of him last year) based on scouts' looks at him this year, which indicated to them that he's likely to play second base long-term, rather than shortstop. Ultimately, the carrying tool here is Freeman's bat. He tracks pitches like a hawk tracks prey from a half mile in the sky and guides the bat head to them with rare consistency. For such a short-levered hitter, Freeman has great plate coverage. He's able to dive and get the bat head to pitches out away from him, and he's typically willing to hit the ball where it's pitched in a refreshing, 20th-century way. He had the 16th-lowest swinging strike rate in the minors in 2019, one of four Cleveland hitters hovering around the 4% mark. Though unlikely to hit for power (based both on his lack of present power and limited physical projection), a potential plus-plus hitter who plays the middle of the diamond is an everyday player. They may need a one-year stopgap, but Freeman is likely to get the first shot to replace Cesar Hernandez at second. (Alternate site, Fall Instructional League)