Coming into Spring Training, outfielder Clint Frazier anticipated battling with Brett Gardner for the starting left field position. But barring injury, it seems Gardner will once again be the Yankees starting left fielder, and Frazier will spend more time on the Scranton shuttle.
Randy Miller of NJ.com reported the Yankees plan on having Frazier start the season in Triple-A. Aaron Boone recently spoke to Frazier and wanted the 24-year-old to focus on staying healthy this Spring as opposed to battling for a Major League roster spot.
#Yankee Aaron Boone wants Clint Frazier, who missed most of 2018, to just play this spring instead of worrying about earning roster spot (or starting job). I’m hearing #Yankees plan to start him in Triple-A unless they need him on big-league roster due to injury.
— Randy Miller (@RandyJMiller) February 26, 2019
Frazier played 54 games in the minors and 15 games in the majors last season, but was ultimately sidelined with concussion symptoms. While it’s understandably frustrating for Frazier to not make the roster, the Yankees would rather have him get repetitive at-bats in the minors versus sitting on the bench at the Major League level. The Yankees would also rather have Frazier as an option in case Gardner, Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton are sidelined with injuries in the near future.
Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is already slated to start the season on the injured list with a foot injury, which might have factored in the Yankees decision regarding Frazier.
