Yanks’ Frazier, ’98 champ, supports home state team
Todd Frazier, the New York Yankees slugging third baseman and one-time Little League World Series star for Toms River, N.J., is showing support for New Jersey’s latest entry into the popular youth baseball tournament in Williamsport, Pa.
And Frazier says the Holbrook team from Jackson is making him his own shirt, with “Todd father” written on the back.
Frazier knows what the kids from Jackson must be feeling as they head off to Williamsport. After all, he was once there himself.
As a past champion of the annual tournament, Frazier is a devoted supporter of the Mid-Atlantic champions who recently earned the right to try to match what his Toms River East team did in 1998.
Frazier, 31, is awaiting delivery of the personalized T-shirt he plans to wear for the duration of Holbrook’s World Series quest, which begins at 3 p.m. ET Thursday against the New England team from Fairfield, Conn.
“They’re going to make my own custom shirt, which is cool,” Frazier said with a grin. “So I should be getting that either tomorrow or the next day, and I’ll wear that proudly ... for the next week.”
That Frazier quickly volunteered himself for a Face Time conversation or any other video avenue to address the players before they play is no surprise — he’s known many of them for years, working during the offseason to help them improve as players.
And the kids have no shortage of Frazier family advice.
Todd’s two older brothers, Charlie and Jeff, have been involved with the Holbrook program for years, drawing on their own experiences as outstanding Little League, high school, college and professional players in mentoring this group.
But Todd has one thing his brothers don’t, the one thing this team desires so much: a title.
“I would tell them to just have fun,” said Frazier, whose Yankees are chasing the rival Boston Red Sox in the American League East.
“Just getting there is the hardest thing. You can always say as you get older that you played in Williamsport and you’re one of those guys that have been there, and that’s the main goal.
“Like for (the Yankees), it’s to win a World Series, but it’s the same thing, it’s tough to just get to the playoffs. For us, we’ve just got to get there, and for them, getting there right now as a 12-year-old is really nice.”