Choo Freeman
Encyclopedia
Raphael Deseption "Choo" Freeman on October 20, 1979 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas
) is a free agent
Major League Baseball
outfielder
.
Freeman was an impressive football player in high school, setting a state record by catching 50 touchdowns for Dallas Christian High School in Mesquite, Texas
and being selected three times to the all-state team. In his overall athletic career at Dallas Christian, he helped the school win six state championships in various sports and signed with Texas A&M
to play football, but chose baseball
when he selected by the Colorado Rockies
in the 1st round of the Major League Baseball draft.
Freeman spent four years making his way through various entry level Single-A minor league affiliates of the Rockies, even being selected as the Rockies top prospect by Baseball America
in , before getting promoted to the Double-A Carolina Mudcats
in . With Carolina, he hit
.291 with 12 home run
s and 15 stolen base
s and was selected as a "Southern League" All-Star causing his stock to rise in the organization.
In , he found himself starting in center field for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
, the Rockies Triple-A affiliate, a position he would retain for most of the next couple of seasons. His best season with the Sky Sox was in where he hit .297 with 10 home runs and 50 RBI
.
He made his major league debut with the Rockies on June 4, 2004, against the San Francisco Giants
as a pinch hitter
. He got his first two major league hits
the next day in his first start for the Rockies, also against the Giants. However, he hit only .189 that season and wound up back with the Sky Sox in .
After hitting .280 with the Sky Sox in 2005, Freeman rejoined the Rockies for limited action in September before making the team full time for the season as a reserve outfielder. He hit .237 in the 88 games he played in during the 2006 season.
On February 2, 2007, Freeman was released by the Rockies.
On February 14, 2007, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
, but he failed to make the major league roster out of spring training
and was reassigned to the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s
. He hit .270 in 121 games with the 51s and stole 48 bases becoming a free agent after the season ended.
Gold Glove center fielder Torii Hunter
.
Freeman joined the League of Champions February 2010. This league includes some of the greatest minds of football as demonstrated each year when the members use that knowledge to compete against one another. This league is led by Jerred ‘Coot’ Carter.
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff is the largest city and county seat of Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the principal city of the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas Combined Statistical Area...
) is a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
.
Freeman was an impressive football player in high school, setting a state record by catching 50 touchdowns for Dallas Christian High School in Mesquite, Texas
Mesquite, Texas
Mesquite is a city located within the Dallas/Ft.Worth area of Texas. As of the 2010 US Census, the population was 139,824.-History:The city was founded May 22, 1873, by a Texas & Pacific Railway engineer who purchased land along the Texas & Pacific line outside of Dallas...
and being selected three times to the all-state team. In his overall athletic career at Dallas Christian, he helped the school win six state championships in various sports and signed with Texas A&M
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
to play football, but chose baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
when he selected by the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in the 1st round of the Major League Baseball draft.
Freeman spent four years making his way through various entry level Single-A minor league affiliates of the Rockies, even being selected as the Rockies top prospect by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
in , before getting promoted to the Double-A Carolina Mudcats
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
in . With Carolina, he hit
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.291 with 12 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 15 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s and was selected as a "Southern League" All-Star causing his stock to rise in the organization.
In , he found himself starting in center field for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
, the Rockies Triple-A affiliate, a position he would retain for most of the next couple of seasons. His best season with the Sky Sox was in where he hit .297 with 10 home runs and 50 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
.
He made his major league debut with the Rockies on June 4, 2004, against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
. He got his first two major league hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
the next day in his first start for the Rockies, also against the Giants. However, he hit only .189 that season and wound up back with the Sky Sox in .
After hitting .280 with the Sky Sox in 2005, Freeman rejoined the Rockies for limited action in September before making the team full time for the season as a reserve outfielder. He hit .237 in the 88 games he played in during the 2006 season.
On February 2, 2007, Freeman was released by the Rockies.
On February 14, 2007, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, but he failed to make the major league roster out of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
and was reassigned to the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
. He hit .270 in 121 games with the 51s and stole 48 bases becoming a free agent after the season ended.
Personal
Freeman is a cousin of Los Angeles Angels of AnaheimLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
Gold Glove center fielder Torii Hunter
Torii Hunter
Torii Kedar Hunter is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.Hunter has taken away many home runs throughout his 13-year major league career by "climbing the fence" in the outfield. He has won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards as an outfielder.Hunter resides...
.
Freeman joined the League of Champions February 2010. This league includes some of the greatest minds of football as demonstrated each year when the members use that knowledge to compete against one another. This league is led by Jerred ‘Coot’ Carter.