The Atlanta Braves have signed outfielder Tyler Freeman to a minor league contract, according to the MLB transaction log.

The 27-year-old will report to big-league spring training as a non-roster invitee ahead of the 2027 season.

Freeman, a right-handed batter and thrower, was once one of baseball’s more highly regarded prospects.

Selected by the Cleveland Indians with the 71st overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Etiwanda High School in California, he ranked among Baseball America’s top 100 prospects for three consecutive years (2020–2022), peaking as high as No. 63.

He was frequently listed among Cleveland’s top organizational prospects thanks to an advanced contact-oriented hit tool and plus speed.

Those tools never fully translated into consistent major-league production.

Across parts of five seasons with the Guardians and Colorado Rockies, Freeman owns a career .247/.323/.336 slash line with 16 home runs and 41 stolen bases in 395 games.

His best season came in 2025 with Colorado, when he hit .281 with a .354 on-base percentage and 18 steals in 110 games.

Last year proved more difficult: limited to 79 games by a concussion, lumbar pain, and other issues, he posted a .247/.317/.314 line before undergoing back surgery in October. He has said he feels great and expects to be ready for game action by late March.

Defensively, Freeman has appeared at every position except pitcher and catcher, giving him clear utility value even if scouting reports have never settled on an ideal defensive home. His low strikeout rate has remained a constant, a remnant of the skills that once made him a top prospect.

For the Braves, the signing is a low-risk depth move. Atlanta’s shortstop situation remains unsettled, and its current bench options include players such as Brett Wisely, Vidal Brujan, and Brewer Hicklen.

Freeman still has one minor-league option remaining and more than four years of major-league service time, which would give the club multi-year control if he earns a roster spot.

First, however, he must complete his recovery and perform well enough in camp to force his way into the conversation.

In an organization that has thrived on identifying useful contributors on the margins under Alex Anthopoulos, Freeman represents a familiar type of addition: a former top prospect with remaining tools and positional flexibility, looking for a fresh start.

Whether he can finally turn that pedigree into reliable major-league production remains to be seen, but the opportunity is now in place.