Nate Freiman (mlb.com)
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By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News
Nate Freiman has made the opening-day roster of the Oakland A’s.
The 26-year-old slugger told the San Francisco Chronicle he was “shaking” when A’s manager Bob Melvin let him know during batting practice. He is expected to platoon at first base along with 7-year MLB veteran Brandon Moss.
The assignment caps a dizzying off-season for Freiman. After starring with Team Israel in September’s World Baseball Classic qualifiers, he was acquired by the Houston Astros in December’s Rule 5 draft after the San Diego Padres left him unprotected. The A’s picked him up last week after Houston placed him on waivers.
Despite hitting .241 with 11 strikeouts and only one walk during a Spring Training split between Houston and Oakland, Freiman was characteristically productive at the plate, driving in 9 runs in 54 at-bats.
That Freiman made the Majors without playing a single game of Triple-A ball is unusual. He hit .298 with 24 HRs, 105 RBIs, and a .370 on-base percentage last season for the San Diego Padres’ double-A team.
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