Sal Frelick had all the time dreamed about taking part in within the massive leagues, and rising up starring on the native fields in Lexington the gifted outfielder all the time questioned what the day may be like if and when it lastly got here.
Yet even in his wildest desires, he by no means imagined issues would play out like this.
Frelick’s MLB debut was like one thing out of a fairy story. Upon being referred to as up forward of the Milwaukee Brewers’ July 22 sequence opener in opposition to the Atlanta Braves, Frelick delivered an epic efficiency to steer his staff to a 4-3 win over the NL East powerhouse. Batting sixth and beginning in proper subject, the 23-year-old went 3 for 3 whereas making two sensational catches on the warning observe and driving in two runs, first tying the sport within the sixth after which knocking within the go-ahead run within the eighth on a sacrifice fly.
Even 4 months later, Frelick nonetheless can’t fairly imagine it.
“I had imagined really hoping to get my first hit out of the way and having a good game overall in my debut,” Frelick instructed the Herald this week. “It completely exceeded expectations, playing well on both sides of the ball.”
That extraordinary debut was among the many highlights of what was surely essentially the most emotional season of Frelick’s baseball profession, a curler coaster yr marked by each unbelievable highs and painful lows. Whether it was going through off in opposition to Shohei Ohtani within the Tokyo Dome, struggling a painful thumb damage every week into the season and finally serving to lead the Brewers to a division title and a playoff look, Frelick’s rookie season was one he’ll always remember.
“It was just a blast,” he stated.
A quick rise
One of the best athletes to return out of Greater Boston this previous decade, Frelick was a three-sport famous person at Lexington High in soccer, hockey and baseball. He earned 12 varsity letters, three Middlesex League MVP awards and was named Mass. Gatorade Football Player of the Year as a senior.
Frelick was provided the possibility to play Division 1 soccer and baseball at close by Boston College, and he in the end selected to proceed his profession on the diamond. Despite some accidents as a freshman and the COVID-19 pandemic reducing his sophomore yr quick after 15 video games, Frelick loved a profitable faculty profession, changing into a two-time All-ACC choice and incomes ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors as a junior in 2021.
That season he additionally broke out as a prime draft prospect, and after declaring for the 2021 MLB Draft he was snapped up by the Brewers with the No. 15 total decide. Though considerably undersized at 5-foot-9, 175 kilos, the left-handed batter boasted a tantalizing mixture of elite pace and excellent bat-to-ball expertise.
Brewers space scout Ty Blankmeyer believed he’d discovered a particular expertise whose items belied his smaller stature.
“He acts like he’s the biggest dude on the field,” Blankmeyer instructed MLB.com after the draft. “He knows his game. He’s very sharp. He’s got a very high aptitude, so he understands what he has to do to be successful. The twitch and the athleticism and the explosiveness make up for — I don’t care how big you are, because this guy, his game is big. He might be ‘small,’ but his game’s not small, it’s big. When you go watch him in the game, he always does something to make you get up out of your seat, like, ‘woah.’ He’s an exciting player.”
Upon his arrival, Frelick instantly rewarded the Brewers’ religion, incomes two promotions from rookie ball to High-A in a matter of weeks earlier than leaping two ranges once more in 2022, reaching Triple-A by the tip of his first full season {of professional} baseball. He then entered 2023 ranked because the No. 33 prospect within the sport by Baseball America, and it was thought-about only a matter of time earlier than he made his MLB debut.
World stage
Before embarking on what was shaping as much as be an important season of his life, Frelick was provided the distinctive alternative to play for Team Italy within the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Frelick was eligible because of his household’s ties to the nation, and he in the end bought approval from the Brewers to take part, reasoning the match could be a superb expertise for him as a participant.
“I remember debating whether or not to do it, but for my personal development I don’t think I could prepare myself any better than playing playoff type baseball in a highly competitive atmosphere,” stated Frelick, including he hopes to play in future WBC tournaments each probability he will get. “With spring training sometimes you’re just going through the motions, trying to get yourself ready for the season, get a few at bats here, but I think the World Baseball Classic offers the ultimate competition.”
Though Italy wasn’t thought-about a favourite entering into, the Italians exceeded expectations and superior to the knockout rounds after ending second in Pool A, beating the heavily-favored Cuba and Netherlands within the course of. Frelick settled in as Team Italy’s leadoff hitter, batting .304 with three doubles and 4 RBI, and the journey culminated with a visit to Tokyo to face eventual champion Japan within the quarterfinals.
That recreation, which Italy misplaced 9-3, wound up doing a 48.7 ranking in Japan, which suggests almost half of all households within the nation had been tuned in for the matchup. Factoring in viewership within the United States and world wide, the sport was probably watched by north of 60 million folks, making it among the many most watched baseball video games ever performed.
“I remember we showed up for batting practice, the game was at 7 and we showed up at like 2, and we walked out and we’re warming up, it’s like five or six hours before the game, and the place is completely sold out,” Frelick stated. “They were all there in their seats just ready, it was like the Olympics to them. I was like ‘wow, this is a really big deal for the whole country,’ and for me as a baseball player, to be able to play in that sort of setting was just unbelievable.”
A serious setback
As a lot momentum as Frelick had coming into the yr, all of it got here to a crashing halt when the outfielder tore a ligament in his thumb sliding right into a second base every week into the season.
Adding insult to damage, Frelick bought damage the identical day massive leaguer outfielder Garrett Mitchell injured his shoulder. Had he remained wholesome, Frelick might have probably been referred to as as much as the majors the following night time.
Instead, Frelick discovered himself caught on the shelf for 2 months.
“I remember just being so bummed because I really wanted to get that call as early as I could,” he stated. “I ended up back in Arizona rehabbing for two months and definitely put a pause on things but I remember coming back being happy to play baseball again.”
Disappointing because the damage was, Frelick made the a lot of the scenario by utilizing the time to get in the perfect form doable.
“The season takes a toll on you, playing 162 games, that’s a lot of baseball, but when I was rehabbing, obviously I had surgery and it was a big injury, but it was just my thumb. I was able to lift, get really strong the rest of my body to finish that season really strong,” Frelick stated. “Where other people’s bodies were hurting, I came in really fresh halfway through the year. So I had the upper hand there and this was a big opportunity for me to get really strong for the rest of my body and come back and hit the ground running once I do get healthy.”
Soaking it in
Frelick returned to motion with Triple-A Nashville on June 14 and made his massive league debut in Milwaukee a bit of over a month later. The rookie supplied a direct spark, posting a 1.2 wins above alternative mark whereas batting .246 with 29 runs, 24 RBI and 7 stolen bases in simply 57 video games.
Following his call-up, the Brewers completed 38-26 down the stretch, capturing the NL Central title and a spot within the playoffs.
“It was awesome, when we clinched the division, at home too, it was unbelievable. We were spraying champagne, we went on the field, the fans stayed, and we had a big celebration,” Frelick stated. “All of the veterans had been like ‘I don’t know if you understand how fortunate you’re, it’s so arduous to make the playoffs and also you simply did it in your first yr. Soak it in, you simply don’t know.’
“There were guys on my team who were six, seven, eight-year veterans who had never made the playoffs before and it was a first for them,” he continued. “I was up for half the year and to be able to partake in that? It was unbelievable. Then to even get a taste of playoff baseball in my first year will go a long way in being prepared for the following seasons.”
Frelick credited Milwaukee’s veterans for exhibiting him the ropes, notably Christian Yelich, the 2018 NL MVP who Frelick grew up watching as a teen. He additionally praised former Brewers supervisor Craig Counsell, and although he acknowledged he was as shocked as anybody to see him land with the Chicago Cubs, he’s additionally glad for him and harbors no sick emotions.
“We all knew he was on the block, we weren’t sure what he was going to do. I definitely think I was surprised to see maybe where he ended up, but at the same time he’s such a great manager and I’m always in his corner,” Frelick stated. “I loved to see him earn a really nice contract, what I think he deserves, but at the same time it’s going to be new next year when you go in, it’s going to be a new staff and a new manager. It’ll be interesting to see how it pans out.”
Circle the date
Looking forward, Frelick already has the weekend of May 24-26 marked down on his calendar. That’s when the Brewers are scheduled to go to Fenway Park, which guarantees to be a particular homecoming for Frelick and his total household.
“Oh, yeah. I already have the schedule marked on the calendar and my family is super excited,” Frelick stated. “Boston is home to me, it’ll always be home to me, I have so many friends and important people in my life who impacted my career who are from this area, to hopefully have them be able to come out and watch me play is going to be super special.”
Frelick’s return will probably be a full circle second, and in addition one of many final main firsts to get out of the best way as he settles into what ought to hopefully be an extended massive league profession.
Now, after years of working in direction of reaching the present, Frelick has new desires to chase and targets to realize, first amongst them constructing upon final fall’s fast playoff exit.
“I had a great first year, I was able to get my feet wet, get comfortable, play in the playoffs, but just got a taste of the playoffs and I think next year, once you get a taste you just crave it,” Frelick stated. “I’d really love to go on a great playoff run, bring the city of Milwaukee a World Series, getting to the World Series is always going to be the No. 1 goal, but to watch these teams go on runs and have these magical runs in the postseason, you just hope to be on that team for however long I play in my career, that’s always going to be the goal.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com
