This Rangers hitter could have an Ezequiel Duran-like breakout in 2027

Before 2026 started, Ezequiel Duran was the last man on the bench and was very much playing for a spot on the roster. Seven months later, he is in line to win his first Gold Glove as a utility man and potentially a Silver Slugger. No player has ever won both at the utility spot since they were conceived in 2022.

Looking through the potential 2027 roster, combined with Chris Young's "younger and more athletic" comments made during the 2026 season's post-mortem, there is another versatile up-and-coming Rangers infielder who may be poised to make big strides in the same way that "The Solution" did. Cody Freeman has already conquered Triple-A Round Rock and is looking to rebound after his 2026 season was derailed by a back injury that kept him out for the first several months of the season.

Cody Freeman has the talent to make an Ezequiel Duran-type of leap in 2027 if the Rangers give him the opportunity

At 25, the 5'9", 180-pound Freeman doesn't have anything left to prove at the minor league level. He showed that in 2025 when he mashed 19 homers with 71 RBIs, with a slash of .336/.382/.549 spanning 426 plate appearances as a member of the Express.

He enters 2027 in the same boat that Justin Foscue was in a year ago, in that he desperately needs to shed the "4-A" player who has yet to prove he belongs in the major league lineup every day. It is going to be a very important spring for Freeman, and if he can stay healthy, we think he has the talent and grit to win the second base job — particularly if Skip Schumaker continues to use Zeke as a jack-of-all-trades.

Freeman still managed to hit .247 last season despite not getting to play much following his injury and rehab. He slashed a respectable .247/.319/.318. But that .318 slugging number is low for him. In the limited at-bats he got, you could see he completely bought into Shumaker's small-ball approach when the Rangers were struggling to score.

He has proven he can drive the ball at every level, and he will do it at Globe Life Field if given the opportunity and confidence to take his best hacks. We already know he can shorten his swing and move runners over. Now, he needs to prove to Skip and the other Rangers coaches that he can man 2nd base on a daily basis. He is a good enough fielder to do it. He can also man the hot corner and play outfield.

Freeman is exactly what Young is looking for as a younger, more athletic, and ultra-competitive player. Now he has to go out in spring training next year and make it a reality. If he does, then he has the potential to put up similar numbers to Zeke in his breakout season.

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