Sam Freeman (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sam Freeman |
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Freeman with the Washington Nationals in 2020
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: June 24, 1987 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 1, 2012, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 12, 2020, for the Washington Nationals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 8–7 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.58 | ||
| Strikeouts | 232 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Samuel Douglas Freeman (born June 24, 1987) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These include the St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Sam Freeman started playing baseball at age four. He played in the Carrollton Little League in Carrollton, Texas. When he was 12, his team won the Carrollton Pony League Championship. Sam began pitching in his first year of high school. He joined the varsity team at Hebron High School a year later.
College Baseball Journey
After high school, Sam played baseball for North Central Texas College (NCTC) for two years. Then, he signed to play at the University of Kansas.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting with the St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals first picked Sam in the 2007 MLB Draft. This was after his second year of college. He decided not to sign and went to Kansas for his third year. The Cardinals drafted him again in 2008 after his junior year.
Sam quickly moved up through the Cardinals' minor league teams. He went from the Rookie League to Double-A in three years. He then played in Triple-A with the Memphis Redbirds.
In 2010, Sam had an elbow injury. He needed Tommy John surgery, which meant he missed the whole season.
Sam made his first Major League Baseball appearance on June 1, 2012. He played in 22 games for the Cardinals that year. He had a 0-2 record with a 5.40 ERA. After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League. In 2013, he played in 13 games. In 2014, he pitched in 44 games. His ERA was 2.61 in 38 innings.
Playing for the Texas Rangers
On March 28, 2015, the Texas Rangers got Sam from the Cardinals. He was later sent to a different team but came back a few weeks later. He played in 54 games for the Rangers that season.
Time with the Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers got Sam on April 5, 2016. He played in seven games for them. He had a 12.91 ERA before moving on.
Joining the Atlanta Braves
On October 21, 2016, Sam signed a contract with the Atlanta Braves. He joined the major league team on May 4, 2017. That season, he played in 58 games. He had a 2-0 record with a 2.55 ERA.
In 2018, Sam signed a new contract with the Braves. He sometimes struggled with his pitching control. He was on the disabled list in July but returned in August. The Braves released him on March 22, 2019.
With the Los Angeles Angels
Sam signed with the Los Angeles Angels on March 27, 2019. He was called up to the main team on April 23. The next day, he was sent back down. He was released by the Angels in August.
Pitching for the Washington Nationals
On August 21, 2019, Sam signed with the Washington Nationals. He pitched very well in five games for their Triple-A team. He struck out 11 batters in 6 innings.
Sam re-signed with the Nationals on February 12, 2020. He joined the main team on July 23. He played in seven games for Washington, with a 1.80 ERA. In August, Sam had Tommy John surgery again. He retired from professional baseball after this.
Short Stint with the Kansas City Royals
On December 27, 2021, Sam signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. He played in 34 games for their Triple-A team. He had a 1.50 ERA with 32 strikeouts. The Royals released him on August 24, 2022.
Playing for the Gastonia Honey Hunters
On June 6, 2023, Sam signed with the Gastonia Honey Hunters. This team is in an independent league. He played in 34 games for them. On September 1, Sam officially retired from playing professional baseball.
Coaching Career
On January 24, 2024, Sam Freeman started a new role. The Kansas City Royals hired him as an assistant pitching coach. He works for their Single-A team, the Columbia Fireflies.
Baseball Awards
- The Cardinal Nation/Scout.com Springfield Relief Pitcher of the Year: 2011
- Texas League All-Star: 2011
- Florida State League All-Star: 2009
- Scout.com Johnson City Reliever of the Year: 2008
