Colorado Rockies Kyle Freeland Showing Improvement in Arizona Fall League

The Colorado Rockies have been trying to develop pitchers that can handle their own in Coors Field since their inception, and more often than not they have been unsuccessful. While Kyle Freeland isn’t necessarily a sure shot, he does have the tools to be successful at the Major League level, if not Coors Field.

After watching Freeland last week in Arizona, the first that that stood out is how quick he is off the mound. Fitting, since the Gold Glove awards were handed out just days ago. If Freeland reaches the Majors, his ability to field his position should garner him some consideration for the award very quickly.

While the left-hander struggled in Hi-A last season, posting a 4.76 ERA with a 1.412 WHIP in 39.2 innings pitched, some of that may be due to shoulder fatigue and minor surgery. Drafted 8th overall in 2014, Freeland made only nine starts in 2015, hence he has been getting some extra work in Arizona to help him make up for lost time. After getting shelled in his first outing of the Fall League, giving up six earned in just 2/3 of an inning, Freeland has allowed just two runs over his next 19.2, spanning four starts.

Two of those starts came against a struggling Glendale squad, while the other two came against Scottsdale and Surprise, the two best teams, and also the two highest-scoring teams in the League. Overall this season, Freeland has a 3.54 ERA and has struck out 12 while walking six. Ideally that ratio will grow a little wider, but Freeland is still relatively new to the pro game and should develop more once he gets more time in the pros.

MLB Pipeline’s scouts have this to say of the southpaw: “Freeland’s fastball might sit in the low 90s, but because of a deceptive delivery, it seems to get on hitters more quickly than that. It also has heavy sink, leading to a lot of groundball outs, and he can reach back for a little more velocity when he needs to. His low-80s slider is an out pitch and he can morph it into a cutter at times. When he doesn’t overthrow his changeup, it has good sink and gives him a third at-least-average pitch to use.”

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At 22 years old, Freeland is currently ranked as the 9th best prospect in the Colorado Rockies system and has an estimated arrival date in the Majors some time in 2016.