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Nate Freiman is among the team leaders in many hitting categories

Local Star Nate Freiman Is Excelling For Orleans

July 26, 2007

By: Jon Tosches - Orleans Cardinals Intern

When local players play in the CCBL, they are often star-struck as they come to this league as the underdog to make the final roster.  Playing with teammates from national powerhouses of the major conferences can be overwhelming,and some players have the tendency of playing tight. Nate Freiman is not a nervous local kid playing in the CCBL but rather a legit college baseball star, who just happens to be from Wellesley, MA. 

At Wellesley High, Nate was a dominant pitcher who also excelled on the track.  As he grew older and taller (he is now 6'7"), he became a prospect on the mound and in the batter’s box.  He was a three-time all conference selection as well as a two year captain of his high school team.   Combine this with many academic accolades, and you could see why Freiman was drawing attention from several outstanding universities.

“My decision to attend Duke came down to the education, as well as the opportunity to play baseball,” Freiman said. 

While most schools were recruiting him as a pitcher, Duke was interested in using him at the plate as well.  It turned out to be a rewarding decision as the sophomore led the Blue Devils in all major hitting categories with a .369 average while hitting 7 home runs and knocking in 48 RBI.  As a freshman he was also among the team leaders in major hitting categories after a minor arm injury forced him off the mound in the early going.  It’s a coach’s dream when you can take a top pitching recruit and use him as your best hitter.  This says a lot about Nate’s character, as he is also a member of the ACC honor roll. 

This summer, Nate showed no troubles making the adjustment to wood bats.  In 32 games (as of July 21), Freiman is hitting at a .277 clip while knocking in 19 runs, both good for second on the team behind Dennis Raben.  He seems to always be there when the team needs a big hit, and is used as protection for Raben, as well.  The Cardinals will rely on his hitting to continue as they are making their push for the postseason. 

With wood bats, Nate attributes some of his hitting success in the CCBL to his days in the Bay State Conference (a wood bat conference) at Wellesley High.  However, scouts attribute these types of adjustments to a player’s makeup and character.  A player of Nate’s caliber will spark interest from professional teams with his playing ability as well as his desire to adapt along the way.  He has a proven track record of success at every level he has played, while excelling in the classroom at a world-class university.   MLB teams take heavy interest in prospects capable to learn and make adjustments on the fly, and Nate Freiman is a perfect fit for that profile.