Kyle Freeland. (Evansville Courier)
Kyle Freeland, the Rockies’ first-round draft pick last year and a former Thomas Jefferson High School standout, remains in Scottsdale, Ariz., and hasn’t pitched in a game this season.
Freeland, a left-hander of the University of Evansville, is rehabbing from shoulder fatigue and from minor surgery to have bone chips removed from his arm, Rockies senior director of player development Zach Wilson said.
Freeland started throwing and playing catch this week, Wilson said.
“He’s doing very well. He’s making strides every day,” Wilson said. “He’s steadily improving. Nothing got worse. It wasn’t a major issue, we just want to make sure he gets right.”
The Rockies signed Freeland to a $2.3 million bonus last year, below the price slotted for him, in part about past elbow injuries.
Freeland last season pitched five games for the rookie-league Grand Junction Rockies, then five more for the Single-A Asheville Tourists in the South Atlantic League. Combined, he carried a 1.15 ERA with 33 strikeouts and just six walks.
He will remain, for now, at the Rockies’ spring training headquarters at Salt River Fields.
Tags: Grand Junction Rockies, Injuries, Kyle Freeland, Salt River Fields, Single-A
