Frazier doubles down on his
MINNEAPOLIS — Clint Frazier looked at the bottom of Monday's Yankees-Twins lineup to see if he was in it. His name wasn't there. It was higher. Second. “I texted my parents and my agent,” Frazier said. “I had to do a double-take. I was surprised.”
Frazier responded with a pair of doubles in the Yankees’ 4-2 loss.
Joe Girardi explained his decision to move the 22-year-old rookie left fielder into the No. 2 hole.
“His at-bats have been really good,” Girardi said. “He’s athletic and he runs the bases really well, so we just thought let's give it a look. I don’t think (hitting second instead of seventh) will really affect him.”
Frazier boosted his average to .308 and his OPS to 1.035.
“I think everything has slowed down for him,” Girardi said. “He seems compact, he’s obviously got the bat speed and a pretty good eye. I’ve been pleased with the progress that he’s made. I think his leg kick is under control. He’s not rushing to get into the hitting position.”
Said Frazier: “It’s going really well. I think my MLB debut kind of set the tone for how I was feeling at the plate.”
Frazier has shown particular aggressiveness on the bases, using his speed. He went first to third on a hit on Sunday in Boston.
“One of the biggest things I’ve tried to remember is my at-bat isn’t over once I reach first base,” Frazier said. “I know how it is playing the outfield, so I want to be the guy that’s always trying to run in other guy’s faces to force a good throw. Up here they’re not going to knock you for being aggressive as long as it’s a smart play.”
Frazier has said his MLB experience so far has “far surpassed” his expectations. “My teammates, the coaching staff, the training staff, everyone has made me feel at home. I have no complaints,” he said.
Of playing in the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, Frazier replied: “That was awesome. You dream of that moment.”