The Rockies haven't announced that Freeman, who is out of Minor League options, has made the Opening Day roster, but it's hard to imagine camp breaking without him unless there's a trade. I'd venture to say he's a prime candidate for the Abby Greer Award, which goes annually to the Rockies' Spring Training Most Valuable Player.

Freeman has improved as a center fielder and has the speed to make up for what he lacks in experience. He still has some developing to do at the corner positions, but his physical talent will cut the learning curve.

But the question always has been his bat, and hitting .370 with a .442 on-base percentage, four triples, a home run and 10 RBIs has given Colorado the answer it was looking for this spring. Now comes the difficult part.

For now, the Rockies have their outfield, which means Freeman will get occasional starts but also get a lot of his playing time in pinch-hit and double-switch situations -- not the easiest task for a player who started throughout the Minors. If he handles that well and continues to show physical ability defensively, he'll either grab a starting role or push the guy ahead of him to greater heights.

What do you think of one-time hotshot prospects Jeff Baker and Chin Hui Tsao's futures with the Rockies?
-- Chris B., Boston

With Garrett Atkins holding the third-base job, and Ian Stewart coming on fast as a power hitter, the outfield was the best move for Baker. He moves better than Atkins and Stewart and could make the adaptation, but it would make sense to give him some time at Triple-A Colorado Springs to complete the transition.

The sporadic playing time and the attention he has given to defense has contributed to a low batting average (.237) this spring, but Baker still has power (four homers, 13 RBIs). The position change has delayed his chance to be a Major League player, but I'd expect him to be a key contributor when it does occur.

Tsao's career has been one of alternating brilliance with injuries, the latest being a rotator cuff surgery that should keep him out of the Majors until at least June.

Tsao also underwent Tommy John surgery in 2001. So there are two ways to look at the situation -- either the surgeries have corrected problems and made the shoulder and elbow stronger than before, or he'll always deal with a health risk.

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There is some concern on the part of Major League teams with young pitchers from Asia because they throw more in their younger years, but scouts that work the Pacific Rim say injuries that occur are not more frequent than those of American pitchers. The key is correcting the problems that occur. For example, the New York Yankees' Chien-Ming Wang underwent shoulder surgery in 2001, but after a lengthy rehab, he has become a contributor and health concerns are in the past.

Also, Tsao does not have much mileage on his arm. He was an infielder until around age 16, when his coach made an intuitive decision to put him on the mound late in a game.

How is Bo Hart doing in Spring Training? Does he have a realistic chance at making the team, or has he already been cut?
-- Aaron D., Louisville, Colo.

The Rockies signed Hart, an infielder who was a popular player briefly with St. Louis, to a Minor League contract but did not invite him to Major League camp, so he never was cut. He is 1-for-4 with a double in Major League Spring Training games.

Will Josh Wilson make the big club this year? I think he's a pretty good ballplayer.
-- David S., Pittsburgh

Wilson suffered a broken left big toe when he fouled a pitch off his foot in mid March and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. It'll be interesting to see how the Rockies handle the transaction with him when he is activated from the 15-day disabled list during the regular season.

Wilson is out of Minor League options, so if there isn't a spot for him on the Rockies' 25-man roster, they'd have to expose him to other clubs through waivers to send him down to the Minors.

The Rockies grabbed Wilson off waivers from Florida because they believe his ability to play shortstop in long stretches and his versatility could make him a Major League contributor.