University of South Alabama Athletics

A first-team American Baseball Coaches Association All-America and all-region selection as a senior, Freese was also chosen the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and first-team all-league his final season with the program.  At the time of his induction, he ranked second all-time at South with a .394 career batting average — which was also third in the Sun Belt record books — and was among the top 20 in hits (180) and doubles (32) as well.  After batting .373 with 11 doubles, six home runs and 48 RBI his first season as a Jag, Freese paced the Sun Belt with a .414 batting average and 73 RBI his senior season, finishing second in hits (99), third in runs (73) and tied for third in doubles (21).  He was voted to the all-tournament team after helping lead the Jags to the championship in 2005, and his efforts aided South in earning an NCAA Regional berth both years he was with the program.  After being chosen by the San Diego Padres in the 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Freese reached the Major Leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals three years later and was named the Most Valuable Player of both the National League Championship Series and World Series after helping the team win the title in 2011.