Clint Frazier didn’t make the New York Yankees’ Opening Day roster, but Aaron Boone harbors high hopes for the youngster.
Wildling, you make Aaron Boone’s heart sing—a song about Clint Frazier finding his way back to the New York Yankees.
Frazier found out on Friday that he didn’t make the Bombers’ Opening Day roster. However, the bad news came with a word of encouragement from his manager:
“My message to him is, ‘go keep working hard at your craft,’” Boone told reporters, including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. “’You have a chance to be really good in this league for a long time Don’t be in a race to put up this number this week. Go get really good at your craft and your talent will then follow and carry.’”
The second-year manager also stated that he expects Frazier to resurface in the Bronx sometime in 2019.
“I really want him to go (to triple-A) with a purpose, because he’s going to help us this year,” Boone told Hoch and Co.
Frazier rebranded himself as “Wildling” in the offseason, declaring his intention to win a job in camp:
after a longggggggg battle with the concussion like symptoms i’m happy to tell u i’ve been cleared to participate in spring training and go after what i’ve wanted since being traded over here, to win an outfield job and show u guys what i can do. i’m readyyyyyyy. pic.twitter.com/qsi7LcMmbr
— Clint Frazier (@clintfrazier) January 17, 2019
Unfortunately, the 24-year-old’s bat didn’t get the message. He put together a disappointing 6-for-46 performance with zero long balls.
Even though an Aaron Hicks back injury opened an extra outfield spot, the Bombers chose to start Frazier in triple-A.
A career .238/.295/.429 big-league hitter, Frazier dealt with concussion symptoms for much of 2018. As a result, he missed a major opportunity when outfielder Aaron Judge fractured his wrist.
Hopefully, Frazier takes his manager’s message to heart. Yankees fans would be thrilled to see his wicked bat speed play for a full season in the Bronx someday.
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