Ready For Primetime: Clint Frazier Is Finally Going To Get Playing Time!

It seems like we have been waiting forever for Clint Frazier to break out and be a premier bat, but the truth is he might’ve been breaking out since he got to New York, and we just didn’t realize it.

Frazier has been blocked from regular playing time since he arrived in the Bronx for star reliever Andrew Miller, but whenever he’s gotten opportunities he has mashed. He’s never logged even 70 games in MLB, but he’s hit .265 or better for three straight seasons, and posted ISOs of .222 and .242 in the last two seasons. While 2020 was a bizarre season that represented the worst of many players, Frazier made encouraging leaps. He slashed .267/.394/.511with eight home runs and three stolen bases, while posting a 15.6% walk rate. Frazier flirted with a .400 OBP, and finished with a 9.8 Offensive rating. He was a very complete offensive player, and for a guy with a reputation as a dreadful defensive liability, he was neutral as a defender (0.3 Defensive rating, 3.8 UZR in right field). Those defensive improvements will be the key to him maintaining consistent playing time, as the Yankees did bring back veteran Brett Gardner for another go.

Let me rephrase that; it will be key to him maintaining consistent playing time. The key will be Frazier demonstrating his considerable power. He has a 60/60 Raw Power rating and it’s been on display whenever he gets some run. Frazier hit 12 homers in 69 games in 2019, and eight last year across only 38 games. Statcast loves Frazier; he barreled up 12.5% of his batted balls last year, double MLB average, and was inside the Top 20 percent of MLB in xWOBA. Those stats that begin with an “x” are important for Frazier, because we can only estimate what he’s able to do as an everyday player.

Another key for Frazier is his discipline at the plate. He ranked in the 93rd percentile in MLB in BB%, and he swung at fewer than 15% of pitches outside the zone. In fact, Frazier is extremely selective, swinging at just 35.2% of pitches thrown his way. He made contact of 80.2% of pitches inside the zone, and only made soft contact on 13.6% of his batted balls.

Everything Frazier has done in his limited chances has been positive, as far as hitting baseballs goes. He’s now projected to be the team’s starting left fielder, with Gardner assuming a fourth outfielder role, and the injury history of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton (who primarily DHs), all but guarantees him significant playing time in 2021. With serious playing time in one of baseball’s top offenses, his current ADP of No. 183 overall makes him a major value.