Nate Freiman’s Spring Journey takes him to Oakland Athletics

bob melvin athletics

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Athletics have a tiny situation at the first base position. They kind of want a right handed batter to be able stick into a platoon on the first base bag. It just so happens that Nate Freiman was available to be claimed off of waivers. Freiman has been making a small tour this off-season and spring. Can he catch on with the Athletics? What will happen to him if he doesn’t?

A few months ago the Houston Astros claimed Freiman in the Rule 5 draft from the San Diego Padres. The first baseman stands a towering six foot eight inches tall but has a compact swing that has power potential for days. It seemed early on that he would catch on with the rebuilding Astros but that didn’t work out. Now, Freiman gets to pack his gear and take a trip to the Athletics camp and see if he can catch on there.

If by chance he does not stay on the Athletics roster all season long, he could actually end up where he started, back with the Padres. The potential Freiman has is evident in the number of teams that continue to be interested in him. Whether or not he will be a member of a platoon at first for the A’s depends on what he can show them in the next seven days. He has the power potential for sure, if he shows up in a big way this week, Freiman might have found the right place at last.


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