Kyle Freeland
A Denver-born pitcher who thrives in the thin air of his home stadium, crafting masterful games that defy the odds of Coors Field.
Born 1993 (age 33)·American baseball player·Birthday: May 14·Millennials
Biography
Kyle Freeland’s story is written in the dirt of a Colorado mound. Born and raised in Denver, he grew from a local high school star into the left-handed ace the Rockies desperately needed. Drafted eighth overall in 2014, he rocketed through the minors, bringing a fierce competitiveness and a deep arsenal of pitches to a ballpark notorious for humbling pitchers. His 2018 season was a revelation, as he finished fourth in Cy Young voting after posting a stunning 2.85 ERA at home, a feat considered nearly impossible in the hitter-friendly altitude. More than just a hometown kid, Freeland became the stoic, workhorse anchor of a rotation, proving that with guile and grit, you can conquer the mountain air.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kyle was born in 1993, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kyle Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Kyle's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Could drive
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2011Could vote
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Turned 21
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2018 after a standout season.
- Pitched a complete-game shutout against the Chicago White Sox in 2018, allowing just four hits.
- Recorded a 2.40 ERA at Coors Field in 2018, one of the best home marks in the ballpark's history.
- Made his Major League debut on April 7, 2017, for the Colorado Rockies.
Did You Know?
He attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, the same school that produced MLB pitcher Roy Halladay.
Freeland was drafted ahead of fellow major league pitchers Aaron Nola and Sean Newcomb in the 2014 draft.
He is an avid fly fisherman during the offseason.
“I'm a Denver kid, and getting to put on this uniform means everything to me.”
