Senior shortstop and quarterback Jack Freehill announced his commitment to play baseball at Columbia University, fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing collegiate sports at a Division I level.
Freehill’s recruiting process officially began in his junior year, though he had been dreaming of being a professional baseball player since a very young age. “It was always my dream to play professionally. I didn’t have any colleges in mind, but to this day, my goal is to play professional baseball in the MLB,” Freehill said.
In April of 2023, the NCAA Division I Council decided to implement new rules that restrict communication and recruiting activity in baseball until the prospect’s junior year of high school. Because of this, Freehill decided to participate on a competitive travel team, NorCal U, the summer before his sophomore year, putting himself on many coaches’ radars.
Although he received offers from Division I schools like the University of San Diego, Freehill decided to commit to Columbia because of their elite academics and the opportunity to have an immediate impact in the starting lineup. “I thought it was the best fit for me. Especially nowadays with the Power Five schools, NIL and the transfer portal, it’s really a mess and I wanted to go somewhere I would feel comfortable,” Freehill said. “And the coaching staff is great. They were the first school to offer me and always showed a lot of interest.”
Beyond athletics, Freehill also emphasized the value of Columbia’s academics and the long-term security it offers. “I also knew that going to an Ivy League school would set me up well, no matter what happens,” Freehill said. “If pro baseball doesn’t work out how I want, I’ll still have a great education.”
Freehill originally had his sights set on playing baseball in college, although he garnered interest from coaches to play football as well after his standout junior year, in which he totaled 35 touchdowns.
This season, Freehill passed for 22 touchdowns and added 11 more on the ground. His performances led to him receiving an offer to play Division I football at Columbia as well.
Currently, Freehill is undecided on whether he will play football at Columbia but anticipates making a final decision sometime in the spring. “I’m thrilled to have an offer from [the Columbia] football program. They have a great coaching staff over there,” Freehill said.
