Choo Freeman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Choo Freeman |
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Freeman with the Colorado Rockies in 2006
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: October 20, 1979 Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 4, 2004, for the Colorado Rockies | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 2006, for the Colorado Rockies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .225 | ||
| Home runs | 3 | ||
| Runs batted in | 29 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Raphael Deseption "Choo" Freeman, born on October 20, 1979, is a former professional baseball player. He used to play as an outfielder in Major League Baseball, which is the highest level of baseball in the United States and Canada.
Becoming a Baseball Star
Choo Freeman was a fantastic athlete in high school. He played American football for Dallas Christian High School in Mesquite, Texas. He even set a state record by catching 50 touchdowns! He was chosen for the all-state team three times.
Choo helped his school win six state championships in different sports. He planned to play football at Texas A&M University. But then, the Colorado Rockies picked him in the first round of the 1998 Major League Baseball draft. He decided to play professional baseball instead!
Climbing the Ranks
Choo spent four years playing in the minor leagues for the Rockies. These are teams where players develop their skills before reaching the major leagues. In 2000, Baseball America even named him the Rockies' top young player.
In 2002, he moved up to the Double-A team, the Carolina Mudcats. There, he was a great hitter, with a .291 batting average. He also hit 12 home runs and stole 15 bases. Because of his strong performance, he was chosen as a "Southern League" All-Star.
By 2003, Choo was playing center field for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. This was the Rockies' Triple-A team, just one step below the major leagues. He played well there for the next couple of seasons. His best year with the Sky Sox was 2004. He hit .297, had 10 home runs, and brought in 50 runs for his team.
Major League Debut
Choo Freeman made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on June 4, 2004. He played for the Colorado Rockies against the San Francisco Giants. The very next day, he got his first two major league hits in his first start.
However, he struggled a bit that season and ended up back with the Sky Sox in 2005. He played well with the Sky Sox again, hitting .280. This helped him rejoin the Rockies for a short time in September.
In 2006, Choo became a full-time reserve outfielder for the Rockies. He played in 88 games that season and hit .237. On February 2, 2007, the Rockies decided to release him.
A few days later, on February 14, 2007, Choo signed a new contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played for their Triple-A team, the Las Vegas 51s. He hit .270 and helped his team score 48 runs. After that season, he became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Family Life
Choo Freeman is related to another famous baseball player, Torii Hunter. Torii Hunter was a Gold Glove right fielder for the Minnesota Twins. Choo married Jamie Freeman in 2010. They have a daughter named Zailey, who was born in 2008.
