This Ranger could make a real case for the 2026 AL Rookie of the Year award

With the rash of injuries the Texas Rangers sustained in 2025, several young Rangers got the opportunity to enjoy extended playing time, particularly down the stretch when the team was making a push for the postseason.

One of those up-and-comers was Cody Freeman. The 24-year-old from Pomona, California, turned heads while filling in for Marcus Semien at second base, and showed that he has all the tools to make a serious run at the 2026 Rookie of the Year award.

Cody Freeman rarely looked overmatched at the plate

Freeman emerged as a top prospect during his time at Triple-A Round Rock before being called up after hitting .336 with 19 homers and 71 RBIs in just 94 games. His slash of .382/.549/.982 was tops for the Express.

When he made the leap to the major league level, he didn't look like a player who was overwhelmed or intimidated by the steep learning curve.

Freeman improved each week and adjusted to the best pitchers in he world nicely while playing a solid second base.

Freeman can make a run at AL ROY in 2026 if these things happen

Several things will need to happen for Freeman to have a legitimate shot at claiming the prestigious AL ROY award in 2026.

First, he will need to be an everyday player and accumulate the minimum number of games played and at-bats to qualify.

For this to occur, it will likely be as a replacement for Josh Jung at third base, as the likelihood of ironman Marcus Semien missing extended time in back-to-back seasons is unlikely, even as the Gold Glover hits his mid-30s.

But Freeman can also play the hot corner, and should Jung find himself slumping early in 2026, then Freeman could take over the job. Or, if the center field position is up for grabs again this season, he would have to adapt to a new position and outplay his fellow Little Rascal, Alejandro Osuna, to get playing time there.

If he finds himself in the lineup daily, he will have to show the same kind of plate discipline that he had during his breakout at Round Rock, where he walked 32 times while striking out only 37 times.

One thing that Freeman did really well in his 36 games with the Rangers is illustrate that he has a clutch gene at the plate that the team sorely missed all of last year. He stepped up and made the most of his opportunities with some big hits.

There are a lot of "ifs" in the equation for Freeman to claim the award, but the preview Ranger fans got in 2025 should prove that he has the ability to do it.