Pittsburgh Pirates: David Freese and His Battle with Depression
By David Hill
Nearly everyone wants to be remembered as a hero. For Pittsburgh Pirates infielder David Freese, being the hero of the 2011 World Series was not all that it was cracked up to be.
After the 2011 World Series, there were very few baseball fans that did not know who David Freese was. He was the hero of the postseason, named the World Series MVP, and was given a brand new black Corvette along with his award. The young third baseman for the champion St. Louis Cardinals, he appeared to be on top of the world.
While that was the public perception, that was not what was actually going on in Freese’s life. Instead, he was dealing with severe depression, barely able to get out of bed and wishing he was dead when he woke up. He tried to battle those demons with alcohol, having problems with drinking in college and right through his tenure with the Cardinals.
His trade to the Angels was for his own sake. The change of scenery helped, as he was able to get out of the limelight and hero worship he faced in St. Louis. He also met his future wife, Marian, who helped get him back on the right track. Freese entered counseling, and after waiting until March for a contract in 2016, came to realize how much baseball meant to him, something he had forgotten due to his depression.
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While going to the Angels may have helped save Freese from himself and his demons, it was the move to the Pittsburgh Pirates that truly rejuvenated his career. He was originally supposed to be a part time player, occasionally filling in at first and splitting time with Jung Ho Kang at third when he returned from injury. Instead, Freese outperformed expectations, producing a .270/.352/.412 batting line with 13 homers and 23 doubles. Freese earned a two year extension, finding a home in Pittsburgh.
That extension may turn out to be quite the bargain. With Kang in limbo given his DUI issues in Korea, Freese has played a vital role on the Pirates. Heading into yesterday’s action, he has produced a .340/.456/.532 batting line with five extra base hits. Even more impressive has been his strikeout to walk rate, as Freese has ten walks and just four strikeouts in 57 plate appearances. It has been quite an impressive season thus far.
Yet, for as good as this season has been, what has been even more important is that Freese is finally comfortable in his own skin. With that being the case, Freese has jumpstarted his career. With a fresh outlook, and a better mindset, he has been exactly the player the Pirates have needed at the start of the season.
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It is a long journey, but David Freese is beginning to overcome his problems with depression. Leaving St. Louis, and eventually ending up with the Pittsburgh Pirates, was the best thing to happen to him.