Clint Frazier has long been a highly-touted prospect, but he can’t get a look in with the New York Yankees despite the team’s numerous injury issues.
In the span of two days, the Yankees have placed DH Edwin Encarnacion and outfielder Aaron Hicks on the disabled list. Neither of these moves resulted in a callup for Frazier, and based on Aaron Boone’s description of how newly-recalled first baseman Mike Ford will be used, there isn’t one coming, either.
Boone said Ford will get DH at-bats when not at first base, so #Yankees have effectively sealed off Frazier’s path to the majors. Said they’re covered position-wise with Hicks on IL.
— David Lennon (@DPLennon) August 4, 2019
Frazier’s bat, at least, should be more than convincing enough for the Yankees. He hit .283 with 11 home runs in 54 games this season, though he’s slumped a bit at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Regardless, he conquered AAA last year and hit with the Yankees in 2019.
25 different Yankees have spent time on the IL this year, including a number of key position players. Frazier still hasn’t appeared in an MLB game since June 16, when he was sent down to clear a roster spot for newly-acquired Edwin Encarnacion. Even when Encarnacion landed on the DL Saturday, Frazier did not get the call. They also didn’t trade him at the deadline, mostly because he was not viewed as enough to land the pitching talent the Yankees sought.
Perhaps the Yankees are punishing Frazier over his feud with the New York media. Whatever the case, it doesn’t look like he’ll be coming up anytime soon no matter who gets hurt.
