Pirates 3B Freese ready to rock ‘n’ roll
PITTSBURGH 鈥� Pittsburgh鈥檚 David Freese is ready to rock 鈥榥鈥� roll.
The nine-year MLB veteran has started the season for the Pirates at third base in place of Jung Ho Kang, who is still trying to get into the country after facing DUI charges in his native South Korea. There is no telling when Kang will return, but the 2011 World Series hero for St. Louis is eager to show he can get the job done at the hot corner on a regular basis.
鈥淵ou try and keep it as simple as possible,鈥� Freese said. 鈥淩egardless of elements, conditions, what鈥檚 going on with the team, you show up, do your work, and when your name鈥檚 called, you get after it as hard as you can.鈥�
Freese hit .270 last year with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs in 437 at-bats. Kang hit .255 with 21 home runs and 62 RBIs in 318 at-bats in 2016.
Freese and his teammates played their home opener against Atlanta, a 5-4 victory, in one of the coldest days that the former Cardinal remembers in his professional career. Ironically, Freese hit the first home run for the Bucs this season with a solo blast to center field leading off the fifth.
鈥淒epending on how the next few hours go, this one will be the coldest of my career but we鈥檒l deal with it,鈥� Freese said in the Pirates clubhouse prior to game time. 鈥淵ou just throw on some extra layers, make sure you鈥檙e loose and make sure you鈥檙e hydrated. I think sometimes you forget to drink water when it鈥檚 really cold. Other than that, you just have to focus on the game. It鈥檚 going to be really cold, but every pitch, you鈥檝e got to focus.鈥�
Despite the weather, Freese admitted to still enjoying Opening Day.
鈥淥pening Day gives you time to think about how grateful you are to have this opportunity. It sounds cliche but you can鈥檛 skip those moments. You have to understand the gratefulness that we have to play this game, and how thankful we are regardless of the weather. It鈥檚 great to be able to play this long and I鈥檓 blessed.鈥�
Freese鈥檚 choice of walk-up music may not be familiar with many fans, but the crowd at PNC Park will get to hear the opening of progressive metal band Tool for the second consecutive season.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a very serious question,鈥� Freese said with a smile when asked if he still listens to Tool. 鈥淵ou will hear it today. I knew they were getting back together and touring but I didn鈥檛 know they were coming to Pittsburgh.鈥�