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Choo knows train leaving the station

Rockies' Freeman running out of time to make impression

Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 21, 2006 at midnight

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TUCSON - Outfielder Choo Freeman has reached a point of no return in his Colorado Rockies career.

"He knows it's time to perform or go to the 7-Eleven," outfield coach Dave Collins said. " . . . The opportunity is here."

Freeman has had his chances in the past, but they haven't worked out.

He once was considered the top prospect in the organization after the Rockies made him the 36th overall pick in the June 1998 draft. The team even gave him a then-franchise-record $1.4 million to turn down a scholarship to Texas A&M, where he was considered the school's top football recruit.

Freeman has yet to face the urgency he does now, however.

He has been around long enough that he is out of options, which means if the Rockies were to decide not to keep him on the big-league roster, they would have to place him on outright waivers, where any team could claim him for $1.

What's more, the Rockies have a need for a right-handed-hitting center fielder to team with returnee Cory Sullivan, a left-handed hitter. The Rockies did sign free agent Eli Marrero as a possible stopgap, but he is more of a corner outfielder/catcher than the type of defensive center fielder that Coors Field seems to demand.

So the Rockies pretty much have left the door open for Freeman.

"We have invested a lot of time in Choo and we need to see if he is going to be able to take the next step," manager Clint Hurdle said. "This is a golden opportunity for him."

Nobody has to explain the situation to Freeman, who checked into spring training Monday, three days before position players were invited to check into camp.

"This is a big spring for me," Freeman said. "I know what I have at stake. I know what I have to do."

And what Freeman needs to do most, he says, is relax.

"At times in the past I have put too much pressure on myself," he said. "When I get relaxed, my ability can take over."

He certainly has plenty of athletic ability. Freeman was part of six state championship teams at Dallas Christian High School. He was chosen Most Valuable Player of his district in baseball in his senior year. He was an all-state selection in basketball. And, in football, he was a three-time all-state receiver who set a Texas high school record with 50 touchdown receptions.

But he hasn't parlayed such physical ability into baseball success. He has spent all but 63 of his 920 professional games in the minor leagues, including three years at the Class A level and the bulk of the past three years at the Class AAA level.

He spent 45 games with the Rockies in 2004, unloading a stinging line drive at Yankee Stadium for his only big-league home run. He appeared in 18 more games last season, after he was called up Aug. 22 when Larry Bigbie went on the disabled list.

But the Rockies still see the potential they believe could emerge late, much like his cousin Torii Hunter's arrival in the big leagues with Minnesota after a six-year apprenticeship in the minors.

"I think what happens is sometimes you get where you want with inspiration, and sometimes it is with desperation," Collins said. "Choo is with desperation. It's now or never."

Freeman is taking his situation seriously enough that he came to Tucson for 10 days in January and eight more earlier this month to get personal tutoring from Collins, who has worked with Freeman since he managed him at Class A Salem in 2001.

"It was cold at home (in Dallas), so this was a chance to get outdoors and get ready," Freeman said. "I've worked with Davey so long. He's made me a better outfielder. So it made sense to come over here a couple times in the winter and tune up my skills."

Collins believes Freeman is ready to turn the corner.

"I have never seen Choo do what he's doing with the consistency he has shown," Collins said. "The big thing is I believe Choo Freeman is ready to believe in Choo Freeman. I love Choo Freeman as a person. I told him if he doesn't believe in himself, nobody in the game will believe in him."