New York Post

Healthy Frazier sees no easy path back to Bronx

- By MARK W. SANCHEZ

MOOSIC, Pa. — Clint Frazier acknowledg­ed he couldn’t summon himself back to The Bronx.

But he admitted it begrudging­ly.

“I know I’m ready,” Frazier, rehabbing with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, told The Post this weekend. “I don’t think there’s much more I have to prove to myself to know I can go out there and perform. This is the best I’ve felt physically, mentally, every other way, so I know I’m ready.”

But a Yankees team that can’t seem to lose, with a healthy outfield corps of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Brett Gardner and Aaron Hicks, doesn’t have the pressing need for him it once did.

Frazier declared himself completely past the concussion scare that had hounded him since early in spring training. After Sunday’s 3-for-5-with-a-homer day, he had played in 16 rehab games between SWB and Single-A Tampa, going 20-for-62 (.323) with four home runs.

Before cautioning that Frazier is “still a little bit behind,” having missed nearly all of spring training, senior director of player developmen­t Kevin Reese said the outfielder has “looked great,” and the team is al- ways “looking for those tough decisions,” with Frazier presenting one.

Making the decision difficult is all he can do right now, Frazier said, speaking both optimistic­ally and forcefully. The 23-year-old, who made a splash in his 39-game MLB debut last year, is desperate for a way back to The Bronx.

“[The Yankees] are doing really good right now, so I’m trying to wait my turn,” Frazier said Saturday. “But ob- viously my goal right now is try to force their hand, doing everything I can down here. I can’t call myself up.

“Just trying to open some eyes that I can go up there and make the really good team even better.”

Reese was impressed, as was SWB manager Bobby Mitchell, who said he’s looked “great” and at full strength.

“He keeps playing the way he is, good things will happen,” Mitchell said.

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