Baseball in Fort Wayne

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As the month of March came to a close, Cardinals’ Manager Tony LaRussa told former Fort Wayne Wizard, David Freese that he will be their s primary and Opening Day third baseman. The news came as the Cardinals were preparing to face the Mets in a Spring Trianing Game and following a tumultuous year tha had many questioning if Freese would be able to overcome some misteps that included an auto accident, heel injury, DUI and a disappointing 2009 campaign.

He entered an employee-assistance program and has not had a drink since.

“It hasn’t been the easiest road,” he said. “I think mentally it’s made me tougher, from everything that’s happened. I just came in here focused. I had a lot of baggage walking in this year, but I’m real happy with the support I’ve had from everybody from top to bottom. I grinded it out and earned the job.”

Cardinals’ hitting coach, Mark McGwire, has indicated that putting Freese lower in the lineup could “be a transformative presence” in the team’s lineup.

He could add “depth and that run producer that comes after the middle of our order,” McGwire said. It has helped Freese that in the last week or so of camp he’s relaxed, and he has not been pushing to make every throw a highlight or every swing a home run.

Related BBIFW David Freese Posts:

David Freese’s MLB Debut

David Freese Again the Favorite at Third

Former Wizards Likely to Debut in 2009 – Part I

Freese for Edmonds: Former Wizards Infielder Traded to Cardinals

Former Wizard, David Freese made his Major League debut with the St. Louis Cardinals against the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon. In the top of the seventh inning, he entered the game as a replacement for Trevor Miller, batting ninth and playing third base. In the bottom half of the inning, he grounded out to Pitsburgh’s third baseman, Andy LeRouche.

The next inning, he hit a sacrifice fly to to the Pirates Right Fielder, Brandon Moss, driving in Joe Thurston to earn his first Major League RBI.

Freese becomes the 77th former Fort Wayne Wizard to debut in Major League Baseball and the first of the young 2009 season. Freese was originally drafted in the ninth round of the 2006 amateur entry draft by San Diego with the 273rd overall pick. He went right to work, hitting .379 with five home runs and 26 runs batted in over 58 at-bats at Eugene before joining the Wizards 53 games in 2006. During that stint, Freese hit .299 with eight home runs and 43 runs batted in and drawing 21 walks in 204 at-bats.

He ended up with the Cardinals organization as part of the trade for the sent Jim Edmonds to the padres prior to the 2008 season.

Not long ago, I assessed former Wizard, David Freese’s chances of starting the 2009 season with the St. Louis Cardinals as being pretty darn good. Then I found out with most eveyroen else that he had a lingering Achilles injury that stemmed from a January auto accident. Then he was sent to minor league camp.

Many speculated that it might mean he would have no chance of breaking camp with the parent club. Fortunately, Spring Training is a long time and a lot can change.

David Freese was recalled from minor league camp and the Carinals are hoping he’ll either win the job or light a spark under Joe Mather, who slumped heavily after they sent Freese down.

“The first thing is to give him a look before you take the next stride and say, ‘Hey, he makes the club or is on the club.’ You give him a look he wasn’t able to get before,” La Russa said.

He’s once again the leading candidate to win the job. Whiteyball thinks Freese will break camp with the parent club. Yesterday, he went 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs batted in duirng St. Louis’ 10-6 loss to Baltimore. In that contest, Freese got the start at first base, which was the first time in his professional career he did so. He’s 6-for-8 in his last two starts.

Freese was originally drafted in the ninth round of the 2006 amateur entry draft by San Diego with the 273rd overall pick. He went right to work, hitting .379 with five home runs and 26 runs batted in over 58 at-bats at Eugene before joining the Wizards 53 games in 2006. During that stint, Freese hit .299 with eight home runs and 43 runs batted in and drawing 21 walks in 204 at-bats. The following season, he produced similar numbers over the full season at High-A Lake Elsinore, and even inched his on base percentage up over .400.

Related BBIFW David Freese Posts:

• Freese for Edmonds: Former Wizards Infielder Traded to Cardinals
• What’s David Freese’s Chances with Cardinals in 2009?

David Freese is one of fifteen cardinals who got reassigned to the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league camp. His spring has been considerably limited due to an Achilles tendon injury that resulted from an auto accident last January.

“…it’s just about getting him healthy. Major League camp is not a place to be rehabbing, unless, of course, you’re on the roster. This will take a little bit of stress off of him and allow him to focus on getting himself right without the pressure of thinking he’s got to get back on the field.”

Related BBIFW David Freese Posts:

• Freese for Edmonds: Former Wizards Infielder Traded to Cardinals
• What’s David Freese’s Chances with Cardinals in 2009?