KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Caleb Freeman warmed up in the visitor’s bullpen at Kauffman Stadium on Monday night, his big-league debut moments away.
“(The butterflies) were definitely there, but I was more locked in ready to go trying to put a zero on the board,” Freeman said.
After six years pitching in the Chicago White Sox system — plus another year in the organization when the minor-league season got canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic — Freeman stepped on a major-league mound for the first time in the eighth inning of Monday’s game against the Kansas City Royals.
The right-hander allowed one run on one hit with one strikeout and a walk in the 3-0 loss. Afterward, asked if the evening was everything he thought it would be, Freeman responded, “Oh yeah, and more. It was fantastic. Had a blast.”
The Sox selected Freeman in the 15th round of the 2019 draft out of Texas Tech. He made his way through the Sox minor-league system, overcoming injuries, to join the major-league squad on Sunday.
“It’s been a long journey, for sure,” Freeman told the Tribune before Monday’s game. “This is my seventh year. But looking back on it now, just thankful for it. Got to enjoy the moment.
“This is what I always wanted to do, since I was a little kid. Just play in the big leagues, play on TV.”
Freeman, 27, missed the majority of the 2022 season with right biceps inflammation. He was also out for two months in 2023 because of a right biceps injury.
“My body wasn’t where it needed to be,” Freeman said. “Just worked out really hard in the offseason and found some good spots. Feeling good going on two years now.”
Freeman started feeling like himself again last year with Double-A Birmingham.
“Made it the whole year healthy for the first time since ’21, so I was really excited,” Freeman said.
Freeman had a 3.92 ERA in 39 relief appearances for the Barons last season. He held right-handed hitters to a .189 average.
This year, he has a 1.35 ERA, .083 (6-for-43) opponents average, one hold and 16 strikeouts in 10 relief appearances between Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte.
“Throwing strikes, living in the strike zone,” Freeman said of the minor-league success on Sunday at Rate Field. “Routine has been good. Feel good, body’s healthy, shoulder feels good.”
He limited right-handed hitters to a .037/.103/.074 slash line (1-for-27) in those 10 outings.
“(He has) a good fastball and a good curveball, uses his slider a little bit,” Sox manager Will Venable said on Monday. “The last few years, he’s cut down his walk rate significantly. And the strikeout rate has jumped this year. He’s doing a really good job of getting both sides out, but especially right-handers, he’s extremely tough on.
“I’m happy to have him and excited to see what he can do. Anticipating that he could be a weapon for us, especially against a right-handed pocket.”
In the six minor-league seasons (2019, 2021-25) Freeman has a 9-12 record with a 3.61 ERA, .210 opponents average, 20 saves, 16 holds and 221 strikeouts in 158 relief outings.
“He’s a grinder and he’s willing to work through hard stuff,” Venable said. “And that’s what you want here is guys with that ability and that mindset. And certainly to stick it out like he has over these years and continue to get better every year, I think is the kind of mindset that you want to have.”
Freeman said walking into the clubhouse on Sunday for the first time as a major leaguer was “cool.”
“It’s hard to explain, but really exciting,” Freeman said. “Good to see some familiar faces. Mostly just really exciting. It helped settle the nerves, especially (starter Davis Martin), going to school together (for two years at Texas Tech). But (seeing relievers Jordan) Leasure, Fraser (Ellard) and everybody, it got the nerves down.”
That all led to Monday’s debut, which began by striking out nine-time All-Star Salvador Perez swinging on a slider.
“That was pretty cool,” Freeman said. “That’s what I was trying to do, get strikeouts.”
Freeman walked Maikel Garcia, who stole second, advanced to third on a flyout and scored on Drew Waters’ double. Freeman got Freddy Fermin to pop out to shortstop Chase Meidroth to end the inning.
“It was great,” Venable said of Freeman’s inning of work. “He looked good. Just the one breaking ball got away from him there and (Kansas City) was able to score the run. Happy for him, made his debut, nice first strikeout against Salvy there. He’s going to be a piece for us. I’m glad he was able to get in there.”
Martin enjoyed seeing Freeman in action on Monday.
“One, I realized how old we’re getting,” Martin joked to the Tribune on Tuesday. “It’s just a really cool experience, kind of taking that in. Freeman and I are those guys that we’ll text two or three times a year and then we get back together, it’s like nothing’s changed.
“Definitely a brother-type of relationship.”
Freeman received a couple of mementos after the game, including the baseballs from his first pitch and first strikeout. He planned on giving them to his mother.
He was also ready for the next outing.
“We’ll get a zero (on the scoreboard) next time,” Freeman said.