MLB: Top 10 Hot Starts by Veterans Age 30 and Above
By Steve Herl
Number 10
David Freese, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates – Age 33
David Freese is a career .276 hitter with 84 home runs and a .765 OPS. In 2017, he is batting .321 with three home runs and a .954 OPS. Freese was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2006 in the ninth round and but made it to the majors as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2011, Freese was the NLCS and World Series MVP. He was also named to the NL All-Star team in 2012.
After a successful stay in St. Louis, Freese was traded to the Los Angeles Angels along with RHP Fernando Salas for CF Peter Bourjos and RF Randal Grichuk. Freese spent two solid but unspectacular years in L.A., having to deal with a right index finger fracture several times. The Pirates signed him as a free agent on March 11, 2016, and last year he hit .270 with 13 home runs in 141 games. In 2017 Freese is batting sixth for the Bucs and provides some protection for Andrew McCutchen with Starling Marte out of the lineup. David Freese has the mental toughness which will help the Pirates survive the loss of Marte. He plays an excellent third base and puts the ball in play using the whole field.