Frazier finding his timing in rehab stint
TRENTON » Clint Frazier is ready to amp up his rehab and get back to the Yankees.
On the disabled list since Aug. 10 with a left oblique strain, the outfielder has been with the Thunder for this Eastern League Division Series against Binghamton.
“The timing is what I’m dealing with right now as far as my at bats go,” Frazier said outside the clubhouse prior to Friday night’s Game 3 at Arm & Hammer Park. “Pulling an oblique is difficult for your mind and your body. It’s a big part of your swing and you have to go out there and figure out how to feel confident every time. It took a little while, but I’m feeling good physically.”
Frazier played six innings in right field in Game 1 and then served as the DH in Game 2. He was back in right field on Friday night.
Frazier, who turned 23 on Wednesday, went 1-for-8 in the first two games with three strikeouts. He punched out in all three of his at bats against EL Pitcher of the Year Corey Oswalt in Game 1.
“I’ve struck out way more than I wanted to, but that comes with it,” Frazier said. “The guys are in Double-A for a reason, they’re good, and a lot of them could probably pitch in the big leagues right now. It’s a timing aspect. I haven’t seen 90 miles-per-hour thrown at me in over month, so it’s difficult, but putting a couple balls in play was a step forward for me.”
Frazier admitted he was reluctant to swing hard at first in fear of re-aggravating his oblique injury.
“What I’ve been doing these last two games is not really focusing on an approach much. I’ve been going out there focusing on just trying to free my mind of the pain that I thought I might feel or not feel, and it’s felt good,” he said. “(On Friday) I’m going to go out there and try to put together some good at bats and not just swing as hard as I can to test my injury.”
Frazier appeared in 28 games for the Yankees, slashing .243/.274/.477 with four homers and 17 RBIs. He hit .256/.344/.472 with 12 fingers and 42 RBIs to earn a promotion from Scranton.
Manager Bobby Mitchell said Frazier’s embraced the playoff atmosphere he’s walked into.
“He’s playing hard because I think everyone on this team sets an example,” the skipper said. “If you see other guys playing hard, you’re going to play hard.”
The plan, as of now, is for Frazier to remain with the Thunder through the ELDS, Mitchell said, although he cautioned that could always change.
“I would say it’s not too far off,” Frazier said when quizzed on his return to the Bronx. “I don’t have a date set in stone yet, but with the team coming to a close on the season, I’m assuming as my rehab progresses I’ll get up there sooner rather than later.”
Outfielder Estevan Florial and shortstop Kyle Holder both arrived from Tampa on Friday.
Neither has been added to the Thunder’s roster and are just with the team to workout, although they could be added if there is an injury or promotion.
The Florida State League cancelled its championship series with Hurricane Irma bearing down on the state.
Florial, the organization’s No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, slashed .298/.372/.479 with 13 homers and 57 RBIs in 110 Single-A games. The 19-year-old played the majority of the season with Charleston before moving to Tampa for the final 19 games.
Holder, 23, batted .271/.317/.350 in 104 games. He was the team’s first-round pick in in 2015 out of San Diego.
There was a moment of silence for former Yankees player, manager and executive Gene ‘Stick’ Michael, who died on Thursday at age 79.
“We were very saddened, everybody. Especially the coaching staff who know him, knows of him or had run into him and talked to him,” Mitchell said on Thursday night. “He was just a fantastic person and baseball guy. He did so much for the Yankees over the years in every capacity you could think of. When I saw it, I was shocked because we had seen him earlier in the year come to watch us. ... I think if we are able to go on win this thing it would be great to dedicate it to him.”