It was just a little note in a recap of the first exhibition of the Mannheim Tornados against the Marlins Puerto Cruz. Geoff FREEBORN pitched four innings in a 4-1 victory. It appears that he will join the Baseball-Bundesliga squad. They haven’t announced it, but it’s a possibility.
FREEBORN is 27 years old and from Red Deer, Alberta. The southpaw was a member of the Canada Juniors National Team and was on the roster for Great Britain at the European Championships last September in Barcelona.
He played junior college with Lassen College in California and the College of Northern Idaho, before joining the Northern Kentucky University (NCAA Division 2) with a scholarship. He pitched in eleven games (ten starts), posting a 1-2 record with an ERA of 3.54 in his junior year. He struck out 38 (19 walks) in 56 innings pitched.
He went to Calgary of the Northern League (Independent League) in 2006 and stayed there until last season. In two years he had an 8-3 record with three saves and an ERA of 4.55 in 79 games as a reliever. He struck out 53 (38 walks) in 67 2/3 innings. In Barcelona he appeared in four games, giving up one run on five hits and two walks in 6.1 innings pitched, while striking out six.
FREEBORN would form a capable tandem with the other new Tornado, Eddie AUCOIN, who dominated the German championship last season. Mannheim stays on Tenerife until next weekend and is supposed to play four more exhibitions until the end of training camp.
