2016 MLB Draft: LSU 2B Cole Freeman drafted by Dodgers in 18th round

The Dodgers with their 18th-round selection of the 2016 MLB Draft took second baseman Cole Freeman out of LSU with pick No. 551 overall.

The right-hander hit .329/.427/.403 with 26 stolen bases in 35 attempts as a junior in 2016 for LSU, which was eliminated on Sunday night by Coastal Carolina in the super regional round of the NCAA Baseball Tournament.

Freeman, listed at 5'9, 170 pounds, had just 11 extra-base hits this season for LSU, including only one home run. But watching his reaction to his one home run, he already has the Justin Turner and Adrian Gonzalez selfie celebration down pat.

That middle infield... @ColeDrank hit his first home run at LSU and @KramerR3 provided the game-winning RBI. pic.twitter.com/9vImjafC0R

— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) May 14, 2016

A native of Mandeville, Louisiana, Freeman played his first two years in college at Delgado Community College in New Orleans, where he earned a Gold Glove Award in 2015 from the National Junior College Association of America.

Defense appears to be one of Freeman's strengths, per Chandler Rome of The Advocate in March:

"You’re going to see him really, really take off there now that he’s settled at second base," Delgado coach Joe Scheuermann said. "I think that’s his best position. He has a tremendous ability to turn a double play, and he’ll make some Derek Jeter-like plays behind that bag. He’ll make your mouth open.

"He’s a baseball rat is what he is."

He played both shortstop and second base at LSU.

Freeman was scouted by Dodgers scout Philip Stringer.

Twitter: @ColeDrank