Alex Freeland -- Prospect Evaluation

Alex Freeland, a 23-year-old switch-hitting shortstop at Triple-A Oklahoma City, represents a developing prospect in the Dodgers' farm system to address middle infield depth alongside Mookie Betts and Tommy Edman. Selected 105th overall in the 2022 draft from UCF, Freeland has shown a remarkable personal journey, overcoming clubfoot surgeries as an infant and a broken wrist during his college career.

Freeland's offensive profile centers on exceptional plate discipline, ranking sixth in the minors with 91 walks last season. His statistics show significant improvement: after slashing .240/.345/.362 in 2023 at High-A, he hit .260/.387/.442 with 18 home runs over 137 games across two levels in 2024. In 2025, he is performing at .321/.389/.491 in his first 100 at-bats at Triple-A. Though he generates more consistent contact and power from the left side, his continued improvement as a right-handed batter elevates his overall offensive potential, with scouts suggesting he could produce approximately 20 home runs annually at the major league level.

Defensively, Freeland plays shortstop with solid range, reliable hands, and plus arm strength despite being an average runner. The Dodgers have also tested him at second and third base to increase versatility. Currently ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the Dodgers' system, his trajectory suggests a potential 2026 MLB debut if he maintains his current development trajectory.

Alexander Chance Freeland (born 08/24/2001) was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 3rd round of the 2022 draft and signed for $580,200. After a solid freshman season at Central Florida, he broke out as a sophomore, batting .282/.419/.570 with 11 home runs while reducing his strikeout rate to 19%. Freeland demonstrates excellent strike zone awareness and solid hand-eye coordination, with the ability to catch up to quality fastballs, though he can be vulnerable to backwards pitching. His productive power is fringe-average, but he effectively identifies pitches he can drive.

Defensively, Freeland possesses an accurate, plus arm with a quick transfer at shortstop. However, scouts have concerns about his lateral mobility to stick there professionally. As a below-average runner, he is more likely to remain an infielder at second or third base long-term. Freeland's internal clock and instincts are impressive, positioning him as a multi-positional player with solid on-base skills who could exceed expectations as a professional.

Freeland has progressed steadily through the Dodgers' minor league system, advancing from Great Lakes Loons to Tulsa Drillers to Oklahoma City Comets. He made his major league debut on 07/30/2025. As of 2026, he ranks as the Dodgers' #7 organizational prospect and was ranked #46 overall by Baseball America in 2025. His current performance shows a .232 average over 82 at-bats with limited power (1 HR), reflecting a challenging transition to higher levels of professional baseball.

The Dodgers are taking a measured approach to developing 23-year-old shortstop prospect Alex Freeland, allowing him to mature at his own rate rather than rushing his progression. In 2024, Freeland demonstrated significant upside, finishing with a .260/.387/.442 slash line, 18 home runs, 31 stolen bases, and 91 walks across 136 games at three minor league levels (High-A Great Lakes, Double-A Tulsa, and Triple-A Oklahoma City), earning him Top 100 Prospects status. GM Brandon Gomes highlighted Freeland's switch-hitting ability, strong work ethic, and high baseball IQ as key strengths that align well with the organization's player development philosophy.

Despite the breakout season, Freeland's performance was uneven. He excelled early in the year at High-A but flattened considerably in the second half, batting just .219 from June through August. The organization recognizes that learning to navigate a full season consistently will be a challenge going forward. A notable developmental consideration involves Freeland's batting stance: while dangerous from the left side, his righthanded strikeout rate reached 30%, a legacy of childhood surgeries to correct a clubfoot. The Dodgers are evaluating whether he should continue as a switch-hitter or focus exclusively on his stronger lefthanded approach, but with no urgency to decide. In related news, the organization added former MLB manager Eric Wedge as Double-A Tulsa's manager and signed 28 international prospects alongside Roki Sasaki.

Alex Freeland has become one of the Dodgers' most valuable prospects in 2024 despite entering the season ranked between 36th and 42nd on most prospect lists, with MLB Pipeline omitting him entirely from their Top 30. His breakout performance is evident in his organization-leading 186 wRC+, a comprehensive offensive metric where 100 is average, which ranks sixth among all full-season minor-league players. Freeland, drafted in the third round in 2022 from the University of Central Florida, struggled in his 2023 debut with a .240/.345/.362 slash line in the Midwest League, but his 2024 season has been transformative. After posting a .346/.518/.593 line in 23 High-A games to start the season, he was promoted to Double-A Tulsa in early May, where he has continued producing at an elite level by reaching base at a .438 clip. His success is built on above-average hit tool combined with excellent plate discipline, evidenced by his 18.6% walk rate, third-highest in the organization.

Alex Freeland, a Los Angeles Dodgers infielder, is receiving increased playing time at second base due to Mookie Betts' oblique injury. To address struggles at the plate, Freeland implemented a significant swing adjustment by positioning his hands substantially further out in front of his body—described by Freeland as "the biggest change I've ever made." The mechanical adjustment has yielded measurable improvements in contact quality. According to Baseball Savant data, Freeland now ranks in the 90th percentile for barrel percentage, 89th percentile for average exit velocity, and 86th percentile for hard-hit percentage. His three hits include one double and one home run, with his single coming off a 104.4 mph exit velocity. His batting average remains modest at .158, though this reflects limited opportunities rather than poor quality of contact. Freeland has also demonstrated improved plate discipline, ranking in the 92nd percentile in chase percentage and 74th percentile in walk rate. His primary weakness remains strikeouts at 36.4% of at-bats (8th percentile). Analysts suggest that if he can reduce his strikeout rate while maintaining his improved contact metrics, the swing change could lead to sustained offensive success.