New York Yankee’s outfielder Clint Frazier came into spring training gunning for the left field job yet he may have to wait.
#Yankee Aaron Boone wants Clint Frazier, who missed most of 2018, to just play this spring instead of worrying about earning roster spot (or starting job). I’m hearing #Yankees plan to start him in Triple-A unless they need him on big-league roster due to injury.
— Randy Miller (@RandyJMiller) February 26, 2019
According to this tweet from Randy Miller of NJ.com, the New York Yankees plan on starting Clint Frazier off in Triple-A for the 2019 season.
I’m on record repeatedly saying I think Frazier should be the starting left fielder on Opening Day. I’m on record repeatedly saying that I’m fully confident that Frazier is a big league player and will be an important contributor in 2019 and for years to come.
But I can’t say I blame the team for starting him in Scranton with the RailRiders.
Frazier missed nearly the entirety of the 2018 season due to his concussion problems. He hasn’t played a meaningful baseball game in months.
Sure, he’s a competitor and he wants to earn that Opening Day nod. That’s exactly the attitude I’d want to see out of him. But starting him off in Scranton to let him get some live action again isn’t the worst idea.
In Scranton, Frazier will get the opportunity to play every day and figure out how his body responds to that level of stress following a serious head injury. I’m more than confident he’ll be back with the big league club as a major contributor in no time, but there’s no rush with someone as talented as he is.
Let him get his footing back and have some on-field success before throwing him into the heat of a pennant race. Frazier will return with his murderous bat speed and fiery intensity in no time.
In my opinion, the electric outfielder will be hitting 400-plus foot bombs in the Bronx within six weeks and he won’t be heading back to Scranton ever again.
