Ryan Freel
Ryan Paul Freel (March 8, 1976 – December 22, 2012) was an American professional baseball utility player.[1]
He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Toronto Blue Jays on April 4, 2001, and later played for the Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, and Kansas City Royals through 2009.[1]
Freel was noted for his versatility across outfield, second base, and third base positions, as well as his base-stealing prowess, accumulating 143 stolen bases with a .268 batting average in 505 career games.[1]
Throughout his career, he sustained multiple concussions—reportedly at least ten—from aggressive play, which were linked to severe depression and other mental health issues.[2]
Freel died by self-inflicted shotgun wound at age 36; a subsequent brain autopsy revealed stage II chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the first such diagnosis in an MLB player.[3][4][5]
Early Life and Background
Childhood and Education
Ryan Freel was born on March 8, 1976, in Jacksonville, Florida.[1] He was raised primarily by his single mother, Norma Vargas, a Cuban-American immigrant who supported the family by working up to 16 hours a day as a teacher and house cleaner.[6] [7] Vargas instilled in Freel a strong work ethic and encouraged his interest in baseball from a young age, often attending his Little League games in the Arlington neighborhood of Jacksonville.[8] [7] Freel attended Sacred Heart Catholic School for elementary education before transferring to public high schools in Jacksonville, playing baseball at both Sandalwood High School and Englewood High School, from which he graduated in 1994.[9] [10] [11] Following graduation, he enrolled at Tallahassee Community College, signing a letter of intent in early 1994 to play baseball there while pursuing junior college coursework.[11] [12] He also briefly attended Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee before focusing on Tallahassee, where his performance on the field led to his selection by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 10th round of the 1995 MLB Draft.[13] [14]Amateur Baseball and Draft
Ryan Freel attended Englewood High School in Jacksonville, Florida, where he played baseball and graduated in 1994; he had previously attended Sandalwood High School in the same city.[11] [9] As a high school senior, he signed to play at Tallahassee Community College in January 1994.[12] The St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the 13th round of the 1994 MLB June Amateur Draft from Englewood High School, but Freel did not sign and instead pursued junior college baseball.[1] At Tallahassee Community College, Freel continued developing as a versatile infielder and outfielder known for his speed and hustle.[15] The Toronto Blue Jays drafted him in the 10th round, 272nd overall, of the 1995 MLB amateur draft from Tallahassee Community College.[11] [1] He signed with the Blue Jays on June 12, 1995, marking the start of his professional career after being passed over in earlier rounds due to his undersized frame and raw tools, though scouts noted his athleticism and base-stealing potential.[16] [15]Professional Career
Minor Leagues
Freel was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 10th round (272nd overall) of the 1995 Major League Baseball draft from Tallahassee Community College.[17] He signed and began his professional career that summer with the Rookie-level St. Catharines Stompers of the New York–Penn League, where he hit .280 with 68 hits, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 28 RBI, and 12 stolen bases in 65 games and 243 at-bats.[13] In 1996, Freel advanced to High-A Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League, batting .271 with 126 hits, 21 doubles, 6 triples, 4 home runs, 46 RBI, and 47 stolen bases in 130 games and 465 at-bats.[13] He repeated the level in 1997, splitting time between Dunedin (.250 average in 66 games) and a brief stint with the Rookie-level Medicine Hat Blue Jays of the Pioneer League (.286 in 28 games), accumulating 35 stolen bases across both stops.[18] By 1998, he reached Double-A with the Knoxville Smokies of the Southern League, posting a .282 average, 10 home runs, and 40 stolen bases in 134 games.[13] Freel progressed to Triple-A in 1999 with the Syracuse SkyChiefs of the International League but underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on June 17 after appearing in only 31 games.[11] He rebounded in 2000 with the Tennessee Smokies (Southern League Double-A) and Syracuse, combining for a .286 average, 10 home runs, 43 RBI, and 30 stolen bases in 80 games at Triple-A.[13] His minor league tenure with Toronto affiliates spanned 1995–2001, showcasing versatility across infield and outfield positions, though he received no prospect rankings due to his late draft status and contact-oriented, speed-based profile rather than power.[13] Following a brief major league appearance in 2001, Freel played Triple-A for the Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Devil Rays affiliate) in 2002, hitting .261 with 117 hits, 8 home runs, 44 RBI, and 37 stolen bases in 119 games.[13] He signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds that November and spent early 2003 at Triple-A Louisville Bats before his promotion.[13] Later assignments included Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts (2005) and Triple-A Louisville (2007) for Cincinnati, Double-A Bowie Baysox and Triple-A Iowa Cubs (2009), reflecting injury rehabs and roster shuttling.[13] Across 886 minor league games from 1995–2009, Freel maintained a .277 batting average, 54 home runs, and 258 stolen bases, emphasizing base-running efficiency (79% success rate in available data) over slugging.[13]| Year | Team (Affiliate) | Level | G | AB | H | BA | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | St. Catharines (TOR) | A- | 65 | 243 | 68 | .280 | 2 | 28 | 12 |
| 1996 | Dunedin (TOR) | A+ | 130 | 465 | 126 | .271 | 4 | 46 | 47 |
| 1997 | Dunedin/Medicine Hat (TOR) | A+/Rookie | 94 | 348 | 87 | .250 | 2 | 35 | 35 |
| 1998 | Knoxville (TOR) | AA | 134 | 512 | 144 | .282 | 10 | 58 | 40 |
| 2000 | Tennessee/Syracuse (TOR) | AA/AAA | 80 | 283 | 81 | .286 | 10 | 43 | 30 |
| 2002 | Durham (TB) | AAA | 119 | 448 | 117 | .261 | 8 | 44 | 37 |
Major League Debut and Cincinnati Reds Tenure
Freel made his Major League Baseball debut with the Toronto Blue Jays on April 4, 2001, appearing in nine games that season as a utility infielder before returning to the minors.[1] After spending 2002 in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' minor league system, where he hit .261 with 37 stolen bases, Freel signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds on November 18, 2002.[15] He began the 2003 season in Triple-A Louisville but was called up to the Reds on April 19, marking his first appearance with the club.[19] In 2003, Freel served primarily as a utility player, appearing in 43 games across second base, third base, and outfield positions while batting .285 with 4 home runs, 12 RBI, and 9 stolen bases.[1] His role expanded significantly in 2004, when he became a regular, playing 143 games and posting a .277 average with 3 home runs, 28 RBI, and a team-leading 37 stolen bases, showcasing his speed and versatility.[1] Freel led the Reds in steals for three consecutive seasons starting in 2004, tying his career high of 37 in 2006.[11] Freel's 2005 season was highlighted by a franchise-first performance on July 27 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he stole five bases in a single game during a 7-6 Reds victory.[20] He appeared in 103 games that year, batting .271 with 4 home runs, 21 RBI, and 36 stolen bases.[1] In 2006, Freel reached a career peak with 8 home runs and another 37 steals over 132 games, batting .271 while contributing defensively with a memorable diving catch in foul territory to rob Albert Pujols of extra bases on August 8 at Great American Ball Park.[1][21] Injuries began to limit Freel in 2007, restricting him to 75 games with a .245 average, 3 home runs, 16 RBI, and 15 stolen bases.[1] He rebounded offensively in 2008 with a .298 average in 48 games but managed no home runs, 10 RBI, and 6 steals before his tenure ended.[1] Over six seasons with the Reds from 2003 to 2008, Freel accumulated 544 games, a .270 batting average, 22 home runs, 114 RBI, and 140 stolen bases, valued for his multi-positional flexibility and aggressive base-running style.[1]Later MLB Teams and Retirement
After being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in December 2008 for outfielder Val Majewski, Freel began the 2009 season with the team but struggled with limited playing time and injuries, appearing in 28 games with a .167 batting average.[15] On May 8, 2009, the Orioles traded him to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for outfielder Joey Gathright.[15] With the Cubs, Freel provided utility infield and outfield depth but was hampered by a strained oblique muscle, leading to a stint on the disabled list; he played in 40 games overall for Chicago, batting .244.[11] On July 2, 2009, the Cubs designated Freel for assignment, and he was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Royals four days later.[22] In 21 games with the Royals, he hit .286 but continued to battle physical setbacks, including lingering effects from prior concussions.[3] Freel became a free agent after the 2009 season and received no major league offers for 2010, prompting him to sign with the independent Atlantic League's Somerset Patriots in spring training.[23] Unable to secure an MLB return and citing cumulative head trauma from multiple concussions—estimated at over 10 during his career—Freel retired from professional baseball in 2010 at age 34.[24] His decision was influenced by ongoing symptoms such as headaches and memory issues, which medical evaluations linked to repeated impacts from diving plays and collisions.[3] Post-retirement, Freel shifted focus to coaching youth baseball in Jacksonville, Florida, founding Big League Development to train players aged 9U to 11U.[10]Playing Style and Statistics
Versatility and Hustle
Freel exemplified positional versatility as a utility infielder and outfielder, appearing at second base in 102 games, third base in 113 games, left field in 77 games, right field in 120 games, and shortstop in 68 games across his major league career.[12] This adaptability allowed him to fill multiple roles for the Cincinnati Reds, where he transitioned from a part-time player in 2003—hitting .285 with 9 stolen bases in 43 games—to a regular contributor by 2005, starting at various infield and outfield spots amid injuries to teammates.[15] His ability to handle five positions effectively made him a valuable bench option, as noted by analysts who praised his competence across the diamond despite lacking power or elite defense at any single spot.[22] Freel's on-field style was defined by relentless hustle, often drawing comparisons to Pete Rose for his full-throttle approach, including diving for balls, crashing into walls, and aggressive base running that frequently dirtied his uniform.[25] In 2005, he stole 36 bases for the Reds despite missing nearly two months on the disabled list, showcasing his speed and willingness to take risks on the basepaths.[15] Career totals included 143 stolen bases over eight major league seasons, with a .268 batting average underscoring his contact-oriented, gritty play rather than slugging.[26] This tenacity earned him the MLBPAA Reds Heart and Hustle Award in 2007, recognizing his passion and effort.[11]Key Achievements and Metrics
Freel amassed 143 stolen bases across 594 Major League games, leading the Cincinnati Reds in that statistic for three consecutive seasons from 2004 to 2006, with personal highs of 37 in both 2004 (fourth in the [National League](/page/National League)) and 2006.[15] His career batting line included a .268 average, 532 hits, 22 home runs, and 122 RBIs over 1,983 at-bats, yielding a 9.0 Wins Above Replacement.[1]| Statistic | Career Total |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 594 |
| At-Bats | 1,983 |
| Batting Average | .268 |
| Hits | 532 |
| Home Runs | 22 |
| RBIs | 122 |
| Stolen Bases | 143 |
| WAR | 9.0 |