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Todd Frazier

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Todd Frazier
Frazier with the Chicago White Sox in 2016
Chicago White Sox – No. 21
Third baseman
Born: (1986-02-12) February 12, 1986 (age 38)
Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 23, 2011, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
(through June 28, 2016)
Batting average.250
Home runs129
Runs batted in373
Stolen bases49
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), nicknamed the "Toddfather" is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played for the Cincinnati Reds. Frazier is 6'3, 215 lb, right-handed, was a shortstop in college, and was converted to the outfield in 2009.

Amateur career

Todd Frazier was born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, as the youngest of three boys and of partial Scottish ancestry from his father's side.[1] He grew up in Toms River, New Jersey.

He was a member of the 1996 Junior Pee-Wee National Champions.[citation needed] He played high school baseball at Toms River High School South.[2]

1998 Little League World Series

At the age of 12 and measuring 5 feet 2 inches (1.57 m) and 104 pounds (47 kg),[3] Frazier was a star on the Toms River East American Little League All-Star team that won the New Jersey state championship and then, the US East regional championship to advance to the 1998 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Dubbed the "Beasts of the East" for their skill, power and lucky charm stuffed gorilla, the team went undefeated in the tournament, and Frazier saved his best performance for the world championship game against the Far East and International champion Kashima Little League from Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan on August 29 at Howard J. Lamade Stadium. Beginning the game at shortstop, not only did he go 4-4 with a leadoff home run, but he was also the winning pitcher and recorded the game-winning strikeout that sealed a 12-9 Toms River win and the world championship – the first American Little League world championship since 1993.[4]

To celebrate their world championship, the Toms River team was invited by the New York Yankees to Yankee Stadium on September 1, 1998, as the Yankees faced the Oakland Athletics, and each Toms River player was introduced publicly to the crowd and invited to stand next to his Yankee position counterpart during the national anthem, which meant that Frazier, as shortstop, was standing next to New Jersey-born Derek Jeter.[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]

College

Frazier attended Rutgers University and played college baseball 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] His 42 home runs are the most in the school's history.[8]

Professional career

Cincinnati Reds

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 Vólquez 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 Simón. 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 Céspedes.[20][21]

Frazier during his tenure with the Cincinnati Reds in 2012

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 the Los Angeles Dodgers' rookie centerfielder Joc Pederson in the final round.[25][26] He became the first hometown participant to win the derby since Ryne Sandberg won as a Chicago Cub in 1990.[26]

Chicago White Sox

On December 16, 2015, Frazier was traded to the Chicago White Sox as part of a three team trade that sent Scott Schebler, José Peraza, and Brandon Dixon to the Cincinnati Reds and Frankie Montas, Micah Johnson, and Trayce Thompson to the Los Angeles Dodgers.[27]

On May 11, 2016, Frazier made an astounding play in the seats behind the third base line. In recoil, he suffered an apparent facial injury and left the game. Luckily, the injury was nothing serious, but it required 5 stitches by the lower lip.[28]

Personal life

On December 14, 2012, Frazier married his longtime girlfriend Jackie Verdon, a former Rutgers gymnast, who is also a New Jersey native.[29] In March 2014, they had their first child, a son named Blake.[30] Their daughter, Kylie Kimberly, was born in December 2015.[31] He now lives in Toms River, where his name now graces the Little League field called Frazier Field House.[32]

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 spent a total of nine seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs organizations without returning to the Major Leagues.[33][34] Charlie Frazier played for six seasons with the Miami Marlins.[20][35]

Frazier is a fan of fellow New Jerseyan Frank Sinatra, and often chose Sinatra's songs to play when he walked up to the batter's box before an at-bat during home games at Great American Ball Park when he was a member of the Reds and currently still does at U.S. Cellular Field[36][37]

References

  1. ^ [1][dead link]
  2. ^ 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." Archived 2007-08-12 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Todd Frazier begins and ends 1998 Little League World Series Championship Game (Toms River East American LL vs. Kashima LL) YouTube (originally broadcast by ABC)
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Apparently Derek Jeter and Todd Frazier go way back". MLB.org. MLB Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  6. ^ Sheldon, Mark. "Jocketty, Frazier present Jeter gift from Reds". MLB.org. MLB Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved July 21, 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. ^ "The Star Ledger". No. May 15, 2016. pg. 63.
  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 July 14, 2015.
  12. ^ Danneman, Joe (May 23, 2011). "Struggling Volquez Sent to Minors". FOX19. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  13. ^ Johnson, Brent (May 23, 2011). "Todd Frazier, former Rutgers star, makes major-league debut". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  14. ^ Gleeman, Aaron (May 24, 2011). "That was quick: Reds send Todd Frazier back to Triple-A". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  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. November 6, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  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 July 14, 2015.
  20. ^ a b "Todd Frazier falls in HR Derby, but family wins". Cincinnati.com. July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  21. ^ "Todd Frazier Reaches Home Run Derby Finales, Falls to Defending Champion".
  22. ^ "Todd Frazier, Reds agree to deal". ESPN. Retrieved February 9, 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. May 12, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  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. ^ Simon, Andrew (December 16, 2015). "White Sox acquire Frazier in 3-team deal". mlb.com. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  28. ^ "Todd Frazier hurt as White Sox struggle late again in loss to Rangers". Comcast Sports Chicago. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  29. ^ https://web.archive.org/20131019133402/http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2012/12/15/todd-frazier-gets-married/. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2014. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ [2][dead link]
  31. ^ "Instagram photo by Jackie Frazier • Dec 18, 2015 at 3:21pm UTC".
  32. ^ Ramsey, Jamie (November 30, 2012). "Frazier's Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts". MLB.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  33. ^ "Jeff Frazier Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  34. ^ "Jeff Frazier Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. August 10, 1982. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  35. ^ "Charlie Frazier Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. July 6, 1980. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  36. ^ "A tale of Todd Frazier, his grandparents and Frank Sinatra | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  37. ^ [3] Archived 2012-07-04 at the Wayback Machine
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