In the city Chamblee, just 15 miles northeast of Atlanta, resides a batting cage with two large flat-screen televisions, simulating Yankee Stadium. After each swing, the exit velocity is shown, as is the distance of the ball off the bat.
Standing at the plate is 22-year-old prospect Clint Frazier, who is itching to make the batting cage simulation a reality in New York.
“I can’t wait to pound the ball into those right-field seats,’’ Frazier told the Kevin Kernan of the New York Post. “I’m going to start this season at Triple-A, but I know where I want to finish this season. My performance is going to dictate my destiny. And I have visions of finishing in The Bronx.’’
Frazier, the fifth overall selection by the Cleveland Indians in the 2013 draft, was dealt to the Yankees last summer in a deadline package trade for reliever Andrew Miller. As he awaits to play in his first full season in the Yankees organization, Frazier is incessantly pushing himself with a grueling exercise regimen at Catalyst Fitness in Atlanta. And with every drip of sweat, his signature flowing red hair bounces along.
“I play like my hair is on fire,” Frazier said. “It’s fiery, like my personality. It’s big hair, and I try to make my personality big. I think it represents me because it’s different, I’m different, it’s unique to who I am. It makes me one of a kind.”
Although a job in New York would mark the end of his hair, Frazier’s biceps and forearms would be allowed to make the trip. His burly physique hasn’t gone unnoticed, and with a relentless offseason fitness program, his right-handed swing has reached new levels. Just ask Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who believes Frazier already possesses “legendary bat speed.”
“I do swing for the fences. I talk a big game, I better back it up soon,’’ Frazier said with a knowing smile. “I think I know how to excite people. I made a joke on Twitter the other day that I am my own hype man, I don’t need somebody else to hype me up. My competitive nature fuels me.
“I know I can bring a lot to the table, and I want my table to be full of polished parts. I have to be more consistent as a hitter. I want to be better in the outfield, I want to be better on the base paths.
“I have to talk myself up, it’s me and that batter’s box against that pitcher, no one else is there. I prepare myself to be ready, so it’s time to go out and play.’’
It’s a blend of cockiness and confidence, traits that once belonged to a former Yankee, a Hall of Famer who has built a strong relationship with Frazier since his arrival to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“I love the fact that when [Clint] called me over the winter from Atlanta, he was spending time with his dad. His father [Mark] was throwing him batting practice,” Reggie Jackson told the New York Post. “To be honest with you, it made my day. It made my day that one of our kids that is an asset to us, wanted to call and talk baseball. I’m a Yankee. If you’re calling and talking to me, you love baseball and you love the Yankees and that’s what I’m there for. I’m going to be there for him.”
Frazier and Jackson began interacting last fall in the Instructional League down in Florida. There, Jackson told Frazier he was putting too much pressure on himself with overaggressive swings in the box. Statistics also suggested this, as Frazier hit .263 with 16 home runs and 122 strikeouts in 463 at-bats last season between Double-A and Triple-A.
“Reggie is like a father figure to me,’’ Frazier said. “I called him recently and he had a conversation with me and my dad for 30 minutes, and my dad was like a little kid talking to him. I will never compare myself to Reggie, but the way he felt about himself, the way he acted, I want to emulate that — in a good way. I don’t want to make people hate me, but he is intimidating. That’s the way I want to be.”
Frazier has also made his presence known on social media, and has quickly gained followers from the New York market. On his Twitter account, he has written #Roadto28, and has chatted back and forth with Washington Nationals’ star outfielder Bryce Harper.
“The way that somebody within the organization described the Yankees to me is’’ Frazier said, insisting this someone was not Reggie: “Other organizations are puppies. This is a beast. That’s who the Yankees are. They’re a beast. They have 27 world championships. No one else even comes close to that.
“You look at the names of the jerseys that are retired. The players who played there. It’s different. I felt different the second I got to Instructional League and the guys they brought around. Overall, it’s an environment set up for success. There are too many good people in that organization — at the major league level and on the way — for us to not thrive.”
And so Frazier wants in, to provide a competitive nature to himself and his teammates, and to also fulfill his goal of reaching the grandest of all stages.
“When I got drafted, I got the chance to tour Yankee Stadium,’’ Frazier said about a trip to The Bronx. “I got the chance to sit in the dugout, walk on the field, saw my picture on the scoreboard. I don’t want to step on that field again, until I’m debuting.
“I already got a taste of Yankee Stadium when I was 18, I want to get the final chew when I’m 22. I feel really good going forward. I think it’s going to be awesome.’’
If you want to connect with Tom Hanslin, email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @tomhanslin.
