Clint gets call from Yankees

Aaron Boone raved about Clint Frazier's growth as a player and off the field this spring and summer. Now, the outfielder, who has had some turbulent times in this organization, will get a chance to show why the Yankees manager is so high on him.

Frazier was officially activated before Tuesday night's game against the Braves at Yankee Stadium. He was not in the lineup against righthander Touki Toussaint, but Boone said that he will get playing time.

“I expect he's gonna play. He's gonna play an important role for us, obviously off the bench tonight could provide a big spot,” Boone said before the game. “Obviously, his past performance, his talents but also how he performed in the spring in the summer, and I feel like where he's at right now, to be shipped down there and the next day and got right to work and it's been really good and consistent and excited to have him back.”

Frazier, though inconsistent in his two big-league stints last season, shows a more mature approach at the plate than Andujar right now, said a talent evaluator who watched him this spring.

“I thought he had really good at-bats this spring,” the scout said. “He came up with a plan and confidence. I would trust the quality of his at-bats over Andujar's at-bats right now.

“And they have got to give him a shot.”

Frazier's time as a top prospect is over. With his options being limited, the Yankees really have between now and the end of next spring training to figure where and if he fits into the organization's plans going forward.

While he will likely fit into the DH rotation with Giancarlo Stanton on the injured list, Boone said he would use him in the outfield as well.

“I could see him playing in the outfield,” Boone said. “I see him. Absolutely get in there.”

Frazier rated out as one of the worst outfielders in baseball last season. Talent evaluators noticed a decline in his defense since the 2018 concussion he suffered in a collision during spring training.

“His defense last year was terrible, worse than before he had the concussion,” said an American League scout, referring to the head injury “That makes me think it's more mental.”

Ultimately what will make Frazier's career his ability to hit.

In 123 big league games (393 at-bats) the right-handed hitter, who GM Brian Cashman said had “legendary bat speed'' following the trade, has a .254 average with 16 homers, 56 RBI and a .771 OPS. Most teams and talent evaluators use 1,500 at-bats to establish a big-league baseline. In a turbulent 2019, Frazier showed he could carry an offense at times — in April and June — and he could be beaten by his own lack of discipline (a barely acceptable 28.5% walk rate is a red flag).