Kyle Freeland

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #8 prospect in 2017
  The eighth pick overall in 2014--one spot ahead of Jeff Hoffman--Freeland embraced the idea of pitching in Colorado as a hometown hero. The Denver native was born 39 days after the first regular-season game in Rockies history. Limited in 2015 first by left shoulder fatigue and then surgery to remove a bone chip in his left elbow, Freeland returned fully healthy in 2016 and worked 162 innings between Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque. He can pitch to the corners with a fastball that sits in the low 90s and touches 97 mph. His eye-opening pitch is a slider with tilt, which many scouts call a wipeout slider at its best, and he also throws a below-average curveball. The big step for Freeland will be becoming most consistent with his changeup and slider, which at times comes out like a cutter. He took a major step forward in terms of mental maturity in 2016 by learning to focus pitch to pitch and not getting over-amped after a mistake. He commands his pitches well thanks to excellent athleticism that shows up on defense and even at the plate. Freeland will be in the mix for an open spot on the big league staff in 2017 and could also claim a lefty reliever spot to begin his Rockies career. He has the stuff and durability to eventually move into the rotation, but that won't come until he solidifies a third offering.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #6 prospect in 2016
  The Rockies drafted Freeland No. 8 overall in 2014--one spot ahead of Jeff Hoffman--and signed the Evansville lefthander for $2.3 million. Like Hoffman, injury has stalled Freeland early in his career. He didn't pitch in 2015 until late July, delayed at first by shoulder fatigue, followed by surgery to remove bone chips in his left elbow. He returned to the mound with two rehab appearances at Rookie- Level Grand Junction before moving on to a make seven shaky starts at high Class A Modesto, but he ended the year on a high note in the Arizona Fall League. Born and raised in Denver, Freeland also had arthroscopic surgery on his elbow in high school--performed by a Rockies team doctor. When healthy, Freeland boasts premium stuff and doubleplus control. He works all quadrants of the zone with a lively fastball that has touched as high as 97 mph but sits comfortably in the low 90s, velocity that returned after surgery. His slider, the best in the system, is a hard 85-87 mph pitch with late-breaking tilt that is a true wipeout pitch. He needs to continue to develop his changeup, which is firm but could develop into an average offering. He also adds a curveball that is fringe-average at best. The athletic Freeland throws with a loose arm action out of a low threequarters slot. He repeats his mechanics, but he has effort in his delivery, and scouts wonder if he will be durable enough to start. Freeland could begin the 2016 season at Double-A Hartford, depending on how he comes through the offseason. He has the chance to be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter at the big league level.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #3 prospect in 2015
  Freeland was born and raised in Denver and drafted out of high school by the Phillies in the 35th round in 2011. He opted to attend Evansville and was taken eighth overall by the Rockies in 2014 and signed for $2.3 million. Some clubs had medical concerns about Freeland, but not the Rockies since their doctor performed arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow when he was in high school. Freeland is a strike-thrower with double-plus control and two well above-average pitches. His fastball ranges from 90-97 mph and sits in the 92-93 range. He commands it to both sides of the plate and comes inside fearlessly, not just for intent but to get outs. Freeland has a wipeout 84-86 mph slider. He can throw it with a very tight, late break with tilt and boring action or with more of a horizontal, late sweeping action--or anywhere in between. Freeland's main focus in instructional league was developing his changeup, which he didn't throw often in college. It's firm at 84-88 mph, but thanks to an altered grip has some fade. He throws across his body but has a loose arm action and is just where he needs to be when releasing the ball. If Freeland doesn't begin 2015 at Double-A New Britain, he should get there at some point during the season and might even reach the majors where he profiles as high as No. 2 in a rotation.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #5 prospect in 2014 draft
  Freeland hopes to join the projectable Colorado prep products who became successful big league pitchers, from Scott Elarton and Roy Halladay to Mark Melancon and Kevin Gausman. Just 170 pounds when the Phillies drafted him in the 35th round in 2011, he went to Evansville and earned a rotation spot as a freshman, when he was throwing 85-88 mph. He has grown to 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, and the quality of his stuff has continued to improve as he has grown into his body and retained a quick arm. He hit 96 mph in the fall after pitching at 89-93 mph last summer in the Cape Cod League, and he has maintained that stuff this spring. Freeland has a loose arm and plus-plus control and projects to have big league command, and his 15-1 strikeout-walk ratio ranked second in the country, and his 106 strikeouts ranked third. Freeland gets swings and misses with his fastball as well as a hard slider in the 85-86 mph range when he's right. The slider is lethal to lefthanded hitters. He also throws a solid-average curveball that he locates well. Freeland's changeup can be too firm at times but has good tumble when it's on. Some scouts aren't convinced Freeland's delivery will allow him to start, as he has a bit of a head jerk, but he has shown the athleticism to repeat it and throws a high volume of quality strikes. He rose up draft boards all spring as his numbers popped off both the radar gun and the stat sheet.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #60 prospect in 2015

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The eighth pick overall in 2014--one spot ahead of Jeff Hoffman--Freeland embraced the idea of pitching in Colorado as a hometown hero. The Denver native was born 39 days after the first regular-season game in Rockies history. Limited in 2015 first by left shoulder fatigue and then surgery to remove a bone chip in his left elbow, Freeland returned fully healthy in 2016 and worked 162 innings between Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque. Scouting Report: Freeland can pitch to the corners with a fastball that sits in the low 90s and touches 97 mph. His eye-opening pitch is a slider with tilt, which many scouts call a wipeout slider at its best, and he also throws a below-average curveball. The big step for Freeland will be becoming most consistent with his changeup and slider, which at times comes out like a cutter. He took a major step forward in terms of mental maturity in 2016 by learning to focus pitch to pitch and not getting over-amped after a mistake. He commands his pitches well thanks to excellent athleticism that shows up on defense and even at the plate.
  
  The Future: Freeland could claim a lefty reliever spot to begin his Rockies career. He could move into the rotation, but that won't come until he solidifies a third offering.