Yankees Prospect Profile: Clint Frazier

Outfielder Clint Frazier was the centerpiece of the Yankees return in Sunday’s trade of closer Andrew Miller. Here’s a closer look at New York’s new toy.

Gleyber Torres had a very short reign as the top prospect in the New York Yankees system. According to MLB Pipeline’s updated rankings, outfielder Clint Frazier now holds the distinction of being the best young player in the Yankees organization.

The 19-year-old Torres, who was the main attraction in the Aroldis Chapman, is an immense talent with the potential to be a true five tool player, but he has yet to play a game above A-ball.

Frazier, on the other hand, has been raking in Double-A for the Indians this season, batting .276/.356/.469 (130 wRC+) and recently earned a promotion to the highest level of the minor leagues. He’s now just one step away from the Bronx, and looks like a guy who could help the Yankees as soon as 2017.

More from Yankees Minor Leagues

• Yankees’ Jasson Dominguez ranks in tough spot on Arizona Fall League Top Prospects list
• Yankees protect only 1 top prospect from 2022 Rule 5 Draft, take major risk
• Scouts ripping Yankees’ Jasson Dominguez’s AFL performance need to get real
• Ranking Yankees prospects heading to Arizona Fall League
• Yankees 2022 first-round pick Spencer Jones ended season on a rampage

Along with Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, the 21-year-old Frazier gives the Yankees a trio of MLB-ready potential superstars. Frazier has yet to be assigned, but presumably he will soon be roaming the outfield alongside Judge, Ben Gamel, Mason Williams, and Jake Cave in Triple-A Scranton.

How the team plans to find time for everyone, it’s hard to say, although if the Yankees decide to deal Carlos Beltran before the trade deadline, at least one of them could receive some big league playing time.

Frazier was drafted by the Indians with the fifth overall pick in the 2013 draft. At the time there was some buzz he could even be the top overall pick. He received the highest bonus the organization had ever given out to that point, taking home $3.5 million right out of high school.

Frazier has made that price look like a bargain, doing nothing but hit in the last four seasons as a professional.

Like Gleyber Torres, Frazier is a potential five tool talent. He’s got an enticing combination of power and speed, has one of the quickest bats in the minors, and is a overall strong defender. He’s played a lot of centerfield to this point, but will probably fit better on a corner long term.

According to Baseball America’s “Prospect Pad” report, the Indians have been working on quieting Frazier’s hands at the plate. They’ve succeeded in cutting down on his strikeouts this year without sacrificing any of his power, which could make a huge difference down the road.

With this trade, the Yankees now have five prospects in MLB Pipeline’s top 40 prospects, and seven in the top 100 list. The addition of Frazier and Justus Sheffield put the team squarely in the conversation for the best farm system in baseball. They may not be there quite yet, but another smart trade or two before the deadline and who knows?