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Todd Frazier

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Todd Frazier
Frazier with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds – No. 21
Third baseman / First baseman
Born: (1986-02-12) February 12, 1986 (age 38)
Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
May 23, 2011, for the Cincinnati Reds
Career statistics
(through August 18, 2015)
Batting average.257
Hits546
Home runs102
Runs batted in308
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Todd Frazier
Medal record
Men's Baseball
Representing  United States
World University Championship
Gold medal – first place 2006 Havana National team

Todd Brian Frazier (born February 12, 1986) is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). Frazier is 6'3, 215 lb, right-handed, was a shortstop in college, and was converted to the outfield in 2009. Frazier is the Reds' starting third baseman, and he has also played left field and first base.[1]

Early life

Todd Frazier was born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, the youngest of three boys. Todd is of partial Scottish ancestry from his father's side.[2] He grew up in Toms River, New Jersey and starred for the team that won the 1998 Little League World Series. In the championship game he was the winning pitcher, and as a hitter he went 4-4 with a lead-off home run.[3] He was also a member of the 1996 Junior Pee-Wee National Champions. He played high school ball at Toms River High School South.[4] Representing his Little League champion team, Frazier appeared at Yankee Stadium in 1998 standing next to New Jersey-born Derek Jeter during the National Anthem.[5] Fittingly, when he made it to the majors, Frazier would not only play against Jeter in the 2014 All-Star Game—Frazier's first and Jeter's last—but just days later would also help the Reds honor the Yankee captain's final year in baseball in a special pre-game tribute.[6]

Frazier played in college for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. In 2007, he started all 63 games for Rutgers, posting a .377 batting average, a .502 on-base percentage, and a .757 slugging percentage. He won Big East player of the year in 2007 and was named a Rivals.com All-American.[7]

He now lives in Toms River, where his name now graces the Little League field called Frazier Field House.[8]

Professional career

Frazier was drafted 34th overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.[9]

On July 11, 2007, Frazier made his professional debut as a designated hitter for the Billings Mustangs—the Reds' Rookie-Advanced farm team in the Pioneer League—going 2-for-4 with two singles, an RBI and a run scored.[10] Frazier finished the 2007 season with the Dayton Dragons.

Frazier during his tenure with the Louisville Bats, Triple-A affiliates of the Reds, in 2010.

Frazier played multiple positions for the Louisville Bats, the Reds' AAA team in the International League. He also spent the 2010 preseason as a non-roster invitee to the Reds' training camp. After the 2010 season, he was added to the Reds' 40-man roster.[11]

On May 23, 2011, Frazier and Matt Maloney were called up to the majors, with Edinson Volquez and Jordan Smith optioned to Louisville.[12] Frazier struck out in his first major league plate appearance facing Michael Stutes while pinch-hitting for Maloney.[13] On May 24, 2011, Frazier was optioned back to Louisville to add an extra relief pitcher, Carlos Fisher.[14]

On July 31, 2011, Frazier hit his first career home run, a solo shot off of Barry Zito's 1-1 hanging curveball. On May 16, 2012, Frazier hit two home runs against the New York Mets. On May 23, 2012, he hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth against the Atlanta Braves.

On May 27, 2012, Frazier homered off of the Colorado Rockies' Jamie Moyer in a 7-5 Reds' win. The home run was unusual because Frazier's bat slipped out of his hands as he was swinging.[15] The same day, he had saved the life of a man choking on a piece of steak by administering the Heimlich maneuver. Of the latter experience, he said, "I gave two pumps and it came out . . . It was pretty surreal. I have never done that before." [16]

On November 5, 2012, Frazier was named the National League's Outstanding Rookie by the MLB Players Association.[17] On April 18, 2013, Frazier hit a homer for Reds' honorary batboy Teddy Kremer, an adult with Down syndrome.[18]

On July 6, 2014, Frazier was named a National League All-Star for the first time in his career, along with teammates Johnny Cueto, Aroldis Chapman and Devin Mesoraco and later Alfredo Simon. On July 8, he was selected to participate in the Home Run Derby.[19] In the Derby, where Frazier's brother Charlie served as his pitcher, he won the National League bracket and represented the NL in the final, where he lost to defending champ Yoenis Cespedes.[20][21]

On February 8, 2015 Frazier and the Reds reached an agreement on a two-year, $12 million contract. The deal will pay Frazier $4.5 million in 2015, including a signing bonus, and $7.5 million in 2016.[22]

On April 21, 2015 Frazier hit his first career grand slam, against the Brewers.[23]

On May 12, 2015 the Reds announced that Frazier would serve as the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game spokesperson.[24]

On July 13, 2015, Frazier won the 2015 MLB Home Run Derby on his home field in Cincinnati. Frazier beat the 2012 Derby champion Prince Fielder, in the first round and defeated Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson in the second round and then beat Joc Pederson in the final round.[25][26] He became the first hometown participant to win the derby since Ryne Sandberg won the Home Run Derby in 1990.[26]

Personal life

On December 14, 2012, Frazier married his longtime girlfriend Jackie Verdon, a former Rutgers gymnast, who is also a New Jersey native.[27] In March 2014, they had their first child, who is a boy named Blake.[28]

Frazier has two older brothers who also played professional baseball. Jeff Frazier played in nine major league games in 2010 for the Detroit Tigers and played a total of nine seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Washington Nationals, and the Chicago Cubs.[29][30] Charlie Frazier played for six seasons with the Miami Marlins.[20][31]

Frazier is a fan of fellow New Jerseyan Frank Sinatra, and often chooses Sinatra's songs to play when he walks up to the batter's box before an at-bat during home games at Great American Ballpark.[32][33]

References

  1. ^ "Todd Frazier Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  2. ^ [1][dead link]
  3. ^ Kernan, Kevin. UP GOES FRAZIER! LITTLE LEAGUE HERO TURNED RUTGERS STAR COULD BE NEXT JETER, New York Post, June 3, 2007. Accessed June 11, 2007.
  4. ^ Christopher, Chris. "Frazier to Cincinnati; 34th overall", Ocean County Observer, June 8, 2007. "She had to do something to honor her cousin, Todd Frazier, the former Toms River High School South standout selected 34th in the supplemental first round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft yesterday by the Cincinnati Reds."
  5. ^ "Apparently Derek Jeter and Todd Frazier go way back". MLB.org. MLB Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  6. ^ Sheldon, Mark. "Jocketty, Frazier present Jeter gift from Reds". MLB.org. MLB Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  7. ^ "Frazier Named Rivals.com First Team All-American: Scarlet Knight Collects Another First Team All-America Honor", Rutgers Scarlet Knights press release dated June 6, 2007. Accessed June 11, 2007.
  8. ^ Ramsey, Jamie (November 30, 2012). "Frazier's Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts". MLB.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  9. ^ MLB.com 2007 Draft Tracker, MLB.com Draft Tracker. Accessed June 8, 2007.
  10. ^ Rachac, Greg. Mustangs shake off recent slump in 9-3 win over Orem, Billings Gazette, July 12, 2007. Accessed July 14, 2007.
  11. ^ Sheldon, Mark. "Reds place Cozart, Frazier on 40-man roster | reds.com". Cincinnati.reds.mlb.com. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  12. ^ Danneman, Joe (2011-05-23). "Struggling Volquez Sent to Minors". FOX19. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  13. ^ Johnson, Brent (2011-05-23). "Todd Frazier, former Rutgers star, makes major-league debut". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2011-05-24.
  14. ^ Gleeman, Aaron (2011-05-24). "That was quick: Reds send Todd Frazier back to Triple-A". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2011-05-24.
  15. ^ Get a grip: Reds' Todd Frazier loses bat, still connects for home run (Video)
  16. ^ Rosecranz, C. Trent (May 29, 2013). "Reds rookie Todd Frazier saves choking man in Pittsburgh". CBS Sports.
  17. ^ "frazier-named-players-choice-rookie-of-the-year | FOX Sports". Foxsportsohio.com. 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  18. ^ Rosecrans, C. Trent (April 18, 2013). "Todd Frazier's home run was a request by Ted Kremer". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati.com. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  19. ^ Kevin Manahan. "N.J.'s Todd Frazier: From a little slugger to MLB's Home Run Derby". NJ.com. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  20. ^ a b "Todd Frazier falls in HR Derby, but family wins". Cincinnati.com. 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  21. ^ "Todd Frazier Reaches Home Run Derby Finales, Falls to Defending Champion".
  22. ^ "Todd Frazier, Reds agree to deal". ESPN. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  23. ^ Mello, Igor (April 21, 2015). "Reds 3B Todd Frazier comes up grand in win over Brewers". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  24. ^ "Todd Frazier to serve as 2015 All-Star Game spokesperson". Cincinnati.com. 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  25. ^ Sheldon, Mark (July 13, 2015). "Deep goes Frazier! Reds star KOs Derby field". MLB.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  26. ^ a b Shea, John (July 13, 2015). "Todd Frazier edges Joc Pederson in Home Run Derby". SF Gate. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  27. ^ [2][dead link]
  28. ^ [3][dead link]
  29. ^ "Jeff Frazier Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  30. ^ "Jeff Frazier Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. 1982-08-10. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  31. ^ "Charlie Frazier Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. 1980-07-06. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  32. ^ "A tale of Todd Frazier, his grandparents and Frank Sinatra | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
  33. ^ [4][dead link]
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