Sam Freeman, University of Kansas LHP, 32nd Round

Sam Freeman was the 32nd round draft choice of the St. Louis Cardinals today.  I cover the University of Kansas baseball team at Rock Chalk Talk .  I thought I would cross-post this story about Freeman here.  Freeman is only a junior and I think there is a good chance he will return to KU for his senior year, but who knows...

Sam Freeman drafted by St. Louis Cardinals

From the KU news release:

Here is bkmhoxx' take on Freeman:

Sam Freeman LHP (5'11, 170 lbs)
Freeman is a JUCO transfer that was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 24th round. He's also a talented leftie with a fastball in the 88-92 range. He has an excellent off speed pitch and a plus slider. More than likely Freeman will be a weekend starter and if he can prove himself in the Big 12, he should move up the draft chart nicely. I would guess 8th round on the high side, 20th round on the low side.

CURRENT TAKE: Freeman had a rough year. He definitely shows flashes of his dominance but its few and far between. He has a stiff and rather herky-jerky motion and is very quick through his delivery. This is one reason he is so tough to hit as its tough to pick up the ball and it happens very fast. However he did show very poor command of hs pitches and control of the strike zone this year. Freeman had an 8.53 ERA in 31.2 innings, giving up 45 hits, 20 walks and getting 20 K's. With his delivery coupled with a nice fastball and a great slow curve, I can see teams drafting Freeman fairly high despite his season totals. I guessed rounds 8-20 before the season and i would fit him somewhere near round 20 this year, but more likely to be near the 30th. Freeman definitely needs to stay and iron out his command. He could be a top 10 rounds draftee next year for sure.

Freeman only pitched one year for the Hawks.  He started 2008 strong but was moved to the bullpen after struggles in March.  Most of this problems were of a control nature.  He was not used extensively during the second half of the season.  I have a fair amount of faith in Freeman's ability to develop into a good pitcher and hope he decides to return to KU in 2008.  He has a very good chance to improve his draft status.

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas junior Sam Freeman has been selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 32nd round of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft. Freeman is the first Jayhawk to go in this year’s draft with the No. 965 pick.

Freeman, a 5-foot-11 left-handed pitcher from Carrollton, Texas went 4-1 with an 8.53 ERA in 13 appearances this season for KU. The Kansas junior won three of his first four starts in a Jayhawk uniform, including a 6-2 decision at Texas on March 16.

Freeman started his collegiate baseball career at North Central Texas College, where he played two seasons before transferring to KU. He was previously selected by the Cardinals in the 23rd round of the 2007 draft.