Yankees Rumors: Clint Frazier likely to start season in minors

Despite Clint Frazier’s insistence that he is ready to challenge for the Yankees everyday left field job, a recent report suggests he’ll likely begin the 2019 season back at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

It was just three weeks ago that Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier was officially cleared to resume baseball activities following a lengthy bout with post-concussion symptoms.

Despite the fact that Frazier only saw action in a total of 15 big league games last season, and another 48 in the minors, the 24-year-old that isn’t afraid to speak his mind recently stated that he’s ready to challenge Brett Gardner for the Yanks’ everyday left field job.

However, according to Randy Miller of NJ.com, even if Frazier were to tear the cover off the ball this spring, he’s ticketed to begin the 2019 season down at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, barring an injury to a presumed starter on the 25-man roster.

Although this is likely not the news Frazier wanted to hear just three games into Grapefruit League action, manager Aaron Boone doesn’t think the kid with the legendary bat speed should concern himself with unseating Gardner — and instead, rather he focuses on playing up to his “capabilities.” As Boone told Brendan Kuty of NJ.com:

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“(Frazier) did some really good things last year,” Boone said. “And as I talked about the other day, I think you saw him make progress defensively. You saw in some limited action up here really good at-bats. That plate discipline is there for a young player. The talent leaps off the screen obviously in the way he swings the bat. So, yeah, I want him to be healthy, get reps, play and not so much worry about how it plays out. The bottom line is, if he’s in a good place and playing and getting better, he’s going to play in the big leagues a long time.”

Naturally, things could always change during Spring Training, especially if Gardner resembles the player he was in ’18 (.236/.322/.386 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs in 140 games), as opposed to the guy that touted a .350 OBP in 2017.

Signing a one-year, $7.5 million deal at the age of 35, likely signifies Gardy’s final season in pinstripes. Still a leader in the clubhouse, Gardner’s presence is a calming influence on a roster with an average age of 27. 6.

At Triple-A, Frazier will get the opportunity to play every day and get the regular at-bats he missed out on last season. With the fluid lineup situation that includes possibly moving Giancarlo Stanton to left field, Miguel Andujar to designated hitter and D.J. LeMahieu to third base, it’s more important that Frazier gets as many reps as he can rather than being a talented but unproven bench player at the major league level.