2017 Dodgers In Review: PH/3B Mike Freeman

Mike Freeman, allegedly.
PA AVG OBP SLG wRC+ HR WAR
MLB (3 teams)  66  .100 .182 .183  -7  1 -0.6
MiLB (OKC)  139 .306 .384 .372  104 0  N/A

What Happened In 2017: Claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners on May 26 and played in four games for the Dodgers in late June.

——

Mike Freeman‘s short time with the Dodgers came after he hit over .300 with Oklahoma City and Franklin Gutierrez‘s battle with ankylosing spondylitis sidelined him indefinitely. Eventually Gutierrez was placed on the disabled list, and Freeman was called up to fill-in. The 30-year-old utility player didn’t collect a hit in Dodger Blue and struck out twice in five at-bats. Despite his versatility defensively, Freeman only made one four-inning appearance at third base.

We really didn’t get to see Freeman in all his super utility glory. While with the Oklahoma City Dodgers, Freeman did his best Enrique Hernandez impersonation by playing every single position on the field except pitcher and catcher. In fact, Freeman once pitched an inning for the Mariners before the Dodgers picked him up off the waiver wire. He allowed one run on three hits to close the game out.

Unfortunately there would be no position player pitching alert for Freeman while with Los Angeles. After his 0-for-5 effort, he was optioned back to OKC on July 1, coinciding with the reinstatement of Josh Fields from the disabled list.

Later, in order to create room for Yu Darvish, Freeman was designated for assignment on August 4. He cleared waivers, but declined an assignment to Triple-A, becoming a free agent.

The next day the Chicago Cubs signed the 29-year-old to a minor-league contract. The Cubs, his third major league team in 2017, called him up in September. Freeman hit .160 with two doubles with the Cubbies in 15 games down the stretch.

——

2018 Status: Currently a free agent. Should latch on with some team as a minor-league signing.

About Stacie Wheeler

Stacie Wheeler, born and raised in So Cal, has been writing about the Dodgers since 2010. She wrote daily as the co-editor of Lasorda's Lair for five long years, and she has also written for Dodgers Nation, Dodger Blue 1958 and The Hardball Times. She currently contributes to True Blue LA. Stacie graduated from the University Of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in Cinema-Television. You can also watch her videos on her YouTube channel, DishingUpTheDodgers.