Clint Frazier is a professional baseball player who is currently in his first season with the Chicago Cubs. Frazier spent the 2013-16 seasons with the Cleveland organization and the 2016-21 seasons with the New York Yankees.
In his MLB career, Frazier has played in 228 games and owns a career .239 batting average with 169 hits, 41 doubles, five triples, 29 home runs, and 97 RBI, with a .761 OPS. Frazier is known for his power and speed, but has struggled with injuries and consistency throughout his career.
The question remains: How good is Clint Frazier? This blog post will evaluate Frazier’s skills and performance in the MLB, using objective performance metrics and analysis of his strengths and weaknesses. We will also discuss his potential for improvement and future outlook in the league.
Background on Clint Frazier
Clint Frazier is a 26-year-old outfielder who was born on September 6, 1994, in Loganville, Georgia. He was drafted fifth overall by the Cleveland Indians in the 2013 MLB Draft, after being named the Georgia High School Player of the Year in his senior year.
Frazier made his professional debut in the Indians’ minor league system in 2013, playing for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and the Lake County Captains.
He quickly rose through the ranks and made his MLB debut with the Indians in 2017, playing in just one game before being traded to the New York Yankees in a deal that sent relief pitcher Andrew Miller to Cleveland.
Frazier played in 39 games for the Yankees in his rookie season in 2017, hitting .231 with four home runs and 17 RBI.
He struggled with injuries in the following seasons, limiting his playing time and sending him back and forth between the minor leagues and the Yankees. In 2020, Frazier played in 39 games and hit .267 with eight home runs and 26 RBI.
In February 2021, Frazier was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, but was released by the team in March and later signed with the Chicago Cubs in April of the same year.
Objective Performance Metrics
Clint Frazier’s key performance metrics in the MLB include batting average, home runs, runs batted in (RBI), and on-base plus slugging (OPS).
Frazier has a career batting average of .239 with 169 hits, 41 doubles, five triples, 29 home runs, and 97 RBI over 228 games.
He has a career OPS of .761, which is the sum of his on-base percentage and slugging percentage. This metric is used to measure a player’s overall offensive production.
To provide context, we can compare Frazier’s stats to the league averages for outfielders in the MLB. According to MLB.com, the average batting average for outfielders in the 2020 season was .252, while the average OPS was .772.
Frazier’s batting average and OPS are slightly below the league averages for outfielders, but his power numbers are comparable, with 29 home runs over his career. We can also compare Frazier’s stats to other outfielders in similar positions or playing styles.
For example, according to Baseball Reference, Frazier’s OPS+ (OPS adjusted for ballpark and league averages, where 100 is considered league average) in the 2020 season was 126, which ranked 25th among all outfielders with at least 100 plate appearances.
This suggests that Frazier was a slightly above-average offensive player among his peers in the outfield.
Overall, while Frazier’s stats are not exceptional, they are still respectable for a young player with limited MLB experience. His power potential and ability to play all three outfield positions make him a valuable asset to any team.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
Power: Clint Frazier is known for his power at the plate. He has hit 29 home runs in his career, with a career-high of 12 in the 2019 season. His ability to hit for power makes him a valuable offensive threat.
Speed: Frazier is also a fast runner, which allows him to be a threat on the basepaths and in the outfield. He has stolen nine bases in his career and has shown good range in the outfield.
Versatility: Frazier can play all three outfield positions, making him a valuable asset to any team. His ability to play multiple positions gives managers flexibility in their lineup and defensive alignment.
Weaknesses:
Consistency: Frazier has struggled with consistency throughout his career. He has had hot streaks at the plate, but has also gone through prolonged slumps. This inconsistency has resulted in a career batting average of .239.
Injury history: Frazier has also been plagued by injuries throughout his career. In 2018, he suffered a concussion that caused him to miss significant time, and he has also dealt with ankle and foot injuries. His injury history has limited his playing time and hindered his development.
Plate discipline: Frazier has struggled with plate discipline, often swinging at pitches outside of the strike zone. This has resulted in a high strikeout rate, with 243 strikeouts in his career compared to just 66 walks.
Overall, Frazier’s power and speed make him a valuable asset to any team, but his inconsistency and injury history are concerns. If he can improve his plate discipline and stay healthy, he has the potential to become a solid contributor in the MLB.
Potential and Future Outlook
Clint Frazier has shown flashes of potential throughout his MLB career, but his inconsistency and injury history have held him back from reaching his full potential.
However, at just 26 years old, Frazier still has time to improve his skills and become a more productive player in the league.
One area where Frazier could improve is his plate discipline. If he can become more patient at the plate and work on taking walks, he could reduce his strikeout rate and increase his on-base percentage. This would make him a more well-rounded offensive player and help him become a more consistent contributor.
Frazier could also benefit from improving his defense, particularly in center field. While he has shown good range in the outfield, his defensive metrics have been below average in center field. If he can improve his positioning and decision-making in the outfield, he could become a more valuable defensive player.
One upcoming opportunity for Frazier is his new team, the Chicago Cubs. As a young player on a rebuilding team, Frazier will likely get more opportunities to play and develop his skills. He could also benefit from working with the Cubs’ coaching staff and learning from more experienced players on the team.
However, Frazier will also face challenges in his new environment. The Cubs are in a competitive division and will face tough opponents throughout the season. Frazier will need to stay healthy and consistent to earn playing time and contribute to the team’s success.
Clint Frazier has the potential to become a more productive player in the MLB by improving his plate discipline and defense.
His new team, the Chicago Cubs, could provide him with opportunities to develop his skills, but he will need to stay healthy and consistent to make an impact in a competitive division.
Here’s a Table Comparing Clint Frazier’s Career Statistics to the League Average for His Position:
| Statistic | Clint Frazier Career Average | League Average for Position |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Average | .239 | .250 |
| On-Base Percentage | .308 | .320 |
| Slugging Percentage | .419 | .436 |
| Home Runs | 29 | 20 |
| Runs Batted In | 97 | 66 |
| Stolen Bases | 7 | 9 |
| OPS | .761 | .756 |
This table highlights some of Clint Frazier’s key performance metrics throughout his career, and compares them to the league average for his position. While Frazier’s batting average is slightly below the league average, he has a higher slugging percentage and OPS than the average outfielder. Additionally, his 29 home runs and 97 RBIs are both well above the league average for his position.
FAQs
What is Clint Frazier’s salary?
As of the 2023 season, Clint Frazier is earning a salary of $4.1 million with the Chicago Cubs.
What position does Clint Frazier primarily play?
Clint Frazier is primarily an outfielder, with experience playing all three positions.
What is Clint Frazier’s injury history?
Clint Frazier has had a history of injuries throughout his career, including concussions, migraines, and ankle sprains. These injuries have caused him to miss significant playing time at times.
Has Clint Frazier won any awards or honors?
Clint Frazier has not yet won any major awards or honors in his MLB career.
What was Clint Frazier’s prospect ranking before he made his MLB debut?
Before making his MLB debut, Clint Frazier was considered one of the top prospects in baseball, ranking as high as 21 on Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects list in 2016.
Conclusion
Clint Frazier is a talented player with a mix of strengths and weaknesses. He has shown the ability to hit for power, run the bases well, and play multiple positions in the outfield. However, he has also struggled with consistency, plate discipline, and injuries throughout his career.
Despite these challenges, Frazier still has potential to improve his skills and become a more productive player in the MLB. With his new team, the Chicago Cubs, he could get more opportunities to play and develop his skills.
If he can stay healthy and work on his plate discipline and defense, he has the potential to become a solid contributor in the league.
Only time will tell how Frazier’s career will progress, but he certainly has the potential to become a valuable asset to any team that he plays for.
