Tyler Freeman: The Bat Quality Is Real, Even If the Results Aren't — Yet

Tyler Freeman is hitting the ball harder than almost anyone you'll find at 1% roster ownership. His 54.1% hard-hit rate and 91.9 mph exit velocity over the last seven days are eye-catching numbers for a player this available, and they represent a significant jump from his 14-day marks of 36.1% and 83.2 mph. The surface-level results haven't caught up — a .150 AVG and .159 wOBA over that same stretch look ugly — but the underlying contact quality tells a different story. This is a player whose batted balls are getting louder while his plate discipline simultaneously improves.

The Plate Discipline Shift

Here's what jumped off the page for WaiverScout's algorithm: Freeman's strikeout rate has dropped from 13.9% over the last 30 days to 9.5% in the past week. At the same time, his walk rate has climbed from 2.8% to 4.8%. That's a meaningful shift in approach — he's putting the bat on the ball more often and showing better pitch recognition. Over 21 plate appearances in the last seven days, he's demonstrated a more disciplined eye at the plate, which is exactly the kind of skills-based improvement that tends to precede a statistical breakout.

Zooming Out: The 30-Day Picture

The broader window provides useful context. Over 72 PA in the last 30 days, Freeman has posted a .231 AVG with 2 HR, 2 SB, and a .283 wOBA. The power-speed combination is modest but real, and the 47.3% hard-hit rate across that full window shows the recent 54.1% spike isn't completely out of nowhere — it's an acceleration of an existing trend. He's been making quality contact; the current cold spell in batting average looks more like sequencing bad luck than a mechanical flaw.

Playing Time Is Secure

Freeman logged 21 PA over the past seven days and 32 over the last 14 — that's consistent, everyday playing time in Colorado. The Coors Field home park adds a layer of upside to any hitter making this kind of hard contact. With dual eligibility at 2B and OF, he offers roster flexibility that adds to his value as a speculative add.

WaiverScout Has Been Tracking This

We first flagged Freeman back on April 9 when he was rostered in just 0.4% of leagues. Our algorithm classified him as deprioritize multiple times through April and into mid-May — because the data wasn't there yet. But we upgraded him to watch on May 9 as early signals emerged, then cycled back to deprioritize before the current skills surge brought him back onto the board. The point: WaiverScout has been monitoring this player for weeks, and the bat quality metrics are now the strongest they've been in that entire span.

Why He's Not a Pickup Yet

The results simply haven't arrived. A .159 wOBA over the last week isn't roster-worthy in any format, and 0 HR and 0 SB over his last five games won't move the needle. He's gone 3-for-20 across those five contests — no extra-base hits, no steals, one walk, two strikeouts. The hard-hit data says better results are coming. The box scores say they haven't come yet. That gap is exactly what separates a watch from an add.

At 1% rostered with no ownership velocity, FantasyPros and ESPN aren't buzzing about Freeman right now, which means you have time. Nobody is racing to the wire for this player. But in deeper leagues, managers looking for upside at 2B or in an OF slot should have him on their radar alongside names like A.J. Ewing and Angel Martínez.

Verdict: Watch

Don't add Tyler Freeman today. But don't lose track of him, either. The hard-hit rate, exit velocity, and improving plate discipline are real signals backed by a solid sample. If the batting average climbs back toward his 30-day .231 mark — and Coors Field says it should — Freeman could be a relevant pickup within the next week or two. WaiverScout will be watching.