Yankees: Luis Cessa provides fans with an update on Clint Frazier

Yankees reliever Luis Cessa provided fans with an update on Clint Frazier.

After the New York Yankees fell to the Washington Nationals 9-2 in the second game of the 2020 season — which is still their only loss through nine contests — manager Aaron Boone had a difficult decision to make.

As we know, the club was forced to use six relievers after starter James Paxton lasted just one inning and was in need of some pitching reinforcements. Ultimately, New York elected to option two players from the Opening Day roster to their alternate training site to make room for two hurlers.

One of the players demoted was Clint Frazier, who had made the most of his opportunities during both Spring Training and Summer Camp.

The decision to option the 25-year-old outfielder obviously didn’t sit well with Yankees fans, but they’ll be pleased to hear that he’s handling his surprise relegation as motivation to get the call back up to the big league roster.

Yankees reliever Luis Cessa has been rehabbing at the club’s alternate training site following a positive COVID-19 test back in June, and he’s been impressed with Frazier’s work ethic and overall mindset in the last week.

“He looks good,” Cessa told reporters. “He looks stronger. He looks ready. Everybody is waiting for the opportunity to come back and I think Clint looks good.”

That’s honestly great news, but it doesn’t change the fact that Frazier is well behind the outfield pecking order.

The young slugger didn’t play in either of New York’s first two games of the season and his demotion further proved to fans that he was the sixth OF of choice, trailing the likes of starters Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks and Brett Gardner, as well as reserves Miguel Andujar and Mike Tauchman.

Fans in the Bronx have been calling for Frazier to get the nod in left field over Gardner, but the 13-year veteran seems to be breaking out out his slump in recent games. The fact of the matter is that the former No. 5 overall pick — no matter how comfortable he looks at the plate or makes strides with his glove — is still finding it impossible to break into the lineup on a consistent basis.

With that being said, it’s extremely encouraging that Frazier is taking this latest stumbling block in stride, and we really hope to see him with the first-team Yankees in the near future.