INDIANAPOLIS – Harrison Freed went to the San Francisco Giants in the 13th round of the 2019 MLB Draft last July. After being selected, Freed played in the Arizona League and then in the Northwest League with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Keizer, Oregon). As he awaits his assignment for the upcoming season, Freed took time out of his schedule to talk baseball with the BU athletic department.
 
Once baseball returns, what team will you be playing with to open the 2020 season?
 
Currently, they haven't placed me on a roster. My hope is that I land with the Augusta GreenJackets (South Atlantic League), but honestly, I'm not exactly sure where I will be placed this year.
 
What were some highlights from your first season as a pro?
 
I had a game where I hit a home run, a triple and two doubles. It was just my fourth professional game and it was surreal to be able to accomplish that at the next level.
 
How does that compare to some of your top moments at Butler?
 
That's a tough one. I have so many good memories at Butler. Two that stick out to me would be hitting a grand slam against Georgetown when I was a sophomore and my two home run game against St. John's. The grand slam against Georgetown sailed over the batters eye, something that we called an "Annex Bomb". Our locker room is called the Annex and I was the first person that year to hit the locker room in the air. I had not seen anyone else do that, so I thought it was pretty cool.
 
The two home run game vs. St. John's sticks out to me because I hit them off two pitchers who were drafted. One of those pitchers went in the sixth round and the other was picked in round 12. It helped us win the game and gave us one of the only wins we had against St. John's in the three years I was there.
 
Let's go all the way back. What's your favorite baseball moment from your childhood?
 
When I was a freshman, I spent my summer with the DC Grays in the Cal Ripken League. On the four-year anniversary of my aunt's death, I hit four home runs in one game. That was the best game of my entire life.
 
What's the best perk of being with the San Francisco Giants organization?
 
There are many. Oracle Park is probably the best facility I've ever been to, but just the fact that they are giving me the opportunity to live out my dream of playing professional baseball is enough. That's all I wanted and I'm forever grateful that they took a chance on me to play for them.
 
Hitting at the next level has to be a challenge. Who was the best pitcher you ran into last year?
 
We played against the Pitcher of the Year in the Northwest League. His name is Luis Frias and he's with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Each time we faced him, he consistently pitched 96-100 MPH. He has a very good curveball with a slider. It was not very fun to be a hitter on those days.
 
What's it like going from the Butler dugout to the one at Salem-Keizer?
 
I definitely miss not being able to play with my old teammates at Butler. We all spent countless hours of time working towards our goals and it is weird not being a part of that team anymore, but the transition has been good. My best friends within the Giants organization are probably Jeff Houghtby who played at San Diego and Tyler Fitzgerald who played college ball at Louisville.
 
What's the plan once the season gets going in 2020?
 
Right now, my plan is to make the Augusta GreenJackets team and push to get called up to San Jose by the end of the year. Hopefully we can get back on the field soon. I just want to play baseball again.