Sal Frelick has lived every young athlete from Boston’s dream.
A three-sport standout, Frelick starred for his hometown Lexington High School and finished as one of the most decorated MIAA athletes of the last decade. He went on to play Division 1 college baseball locally at Boston College, developing into one of the nation’s top prospects before eventually being selected No. 15 overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2021 MLB Draft. A rapid ascent through the minors followed, and last July he realized his lifelong dream when he was called up to the majors.
Sitting in the visitor’s dugout prior to Friday night’s game at Fenway Park, Frelick reflected on his journey, which had now brought him back to his hometown ballpark for the first time as a big leaguer.
“It means everything,” Frelick said. “I think I took it for granted that it truly is the best park in baseball, but that’s the dream, to play there. Obviously I dreamed of playing in a Red Sox uniform when I was a little kid, but to be back here is unbelievable and it’s going to be a really good weekend.”
Frelick and the Brewers will be in town this weekend for a three-game series, which the Lexington native acknowledged has been circled on his calendar for a long time. He’s expecting a huge group of friends and family at the ballpark and bought a suite for the weekend in order to accommodate everyone, and Friday morning he received a hero’s welcome when upwards of 70 people from his past, including former coaches and teachers, Best Buddies and Lexington city officials feted him at the ballpark following his arrival.
“It was really emotional having all of those people here with me,” Frelick said. “Even (Thursday) when we got in on the off day, I hadn’t been in Boston in the summer in a long time. It’s just been emotional and I want to make sure I can deal with those emotions and play baseball.”
So far Frelick’s transition to the majors has gone smoothly, and coming into the weekend he was batting .250 with two home runs, 10 RBI and six stolen bases to start his first full season as a big leaguer. Friday he batted seventh and started in right field, and though he’s primarily played outfield in the majors, he grew up playing infield and originally the plan was for him to make the shift this season before injuries elsewhere forced him back.
But before that happened Frelick was fully committed to the switch, and over the offseason he even got to work with Red Sox legend Dustin Pedroia out in Arizona.
“It was awesome. When (manager Pat Murphy) called me and was like ‘hey want to come out to Arizona for a week to work with Pedey’ I got on the quickest flight I could,” Frelick said. “I was ecstatic to get out there, meet him, spend some time away from the baseball field too and pick his brain about stuff.
“It was great, he was cleats on, glove on, chirping me, I got the whole nine yards, which is what I hoped for,” he added later. “Intense, passionate, he just really cares.”
In an era where many of the best athletes specialize or take their talents to prep school, Frelick stands out as an elite talent who stayed home, played multiple sports and committed to a New England college program rather than play down south or out west. Frelick said that’s a path he committed to early in life and he takes pride in knowing he was able to stick to those values and still realize his big league dream.
It’s an approach he’s brought with him to Milwaukee, which has become his home away from home.
“I went out to the city and met a ton of the fans, did some fan fests there even before I debuted,” Frelick said. “It’s my second home right now and that’s something I want to embrace.”
Frelick isn’t the only recent Greater Boston star to make his mark in the professional ranks. Fellow Lexington native Chris Shaw and Andover’s Mike Yastrzemski both played for the San Francisco Giants and others like Methuen’s Dominic Keegan and Rowley’s Thomas White are currently working their way up through the Tampa Bay and Miami farm systems respectively. But for those still to come, Frelick hopes he can be an example of what’s possible and offered some advice that’s paid off for him.
“Don’t worry about playing year-round, play multiple sports and don’t lose the New England, the Massachusetts chip on your shoulder,” Frelick said. “That chip on your shoulder goes a long way.”
